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National Conference of State Legislatures Guide to State-Tribal Relations
January 2004

State legislatures can host an annual Native American cultural recognition day at the capitol. Tribal leaders can address the legislature and meet with committees or individual state legislators to discuss tribal issues within the state. This can help develop leader to leader relationships designed to facilitate cooperative policymaking. Activities could also include cultural events to honor the tribes within the state and to educate the community about the tribe’s history and traditions.
State legislatures can invite tribal leaders to conduct a “State of the Tribes” address at the commencement of each legislative session. The address can provide tribes with the opportunity to inform legislators about issues in Indian Country and their legislative priorities.
State legislatures can create executive branch commissions designed to address state-tribal issues in the state. These commissions can facilitate the creation of statewide state-tribal partnerships that provide a framework for communication and conflict resolution and promote policy development on a government-to-government basis. States may wish to consider creating these offices in a manner that incorporates representation from both the executive and legislative branches of state government and representation from tribal government so as to streamline communication and coordinate efforts.
State legislatures can create a committee on state-tribal relations within the legislature to serve as a forum for addressing tribal issues and developing effective legislation. The legislature could invite tribal leaders to participate in the committee or sit on the committee as permanent members.
State legislatures can create a guidebook for legislators educating them about the tribes within the state, pertinent state-tribal issues, and protocol for tribal consultation and cooperation in policymaking.
State legislatures can educate freshman legislators about tribal issues through information sessions during their new member orientation.
State legislatures can provide tribal leaders with information on the legislative committees that address tribal issues in the state.
State legislatures can provide more in-depth educational sessions on tribal issues for legislators poised to become leadership within the next few years.
State legislatures can require the preparation of tribal impact statements describing the affect a piece of legislation may have on American Indians or tribal governments.
State legislatures can host state-tribal summits that bring together state legislators and members of tribal government to address specific state policy issues affecting the tribes or Native families in the state.

The State-Tribal Relations Project is an on-going partnership between the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Congress of American Indians. For more information, contact Andrea Wilkins (303-856-1558 or andrea.wilkins@ncsl.org) or Linda Sikkema (303-856-1530 or linda.sikkema@ncsl.org).

Return to State-Tribal Relations Home page

State legislatures can invite tribal leaders to conduct a “State of the Tribes” address at the commencement of each legislative session. The address can provide tribes with the opportunity to inform legislators about issues in Indian Country and their legislative priorities.

State legislatures can create a committee on state-tribal relations within the legislature to serve as a forum for addressing tribal issues and developing effective legislation. The legislature could invite tribal leaders to participate in the committee or sit on the committee as permanent members.

State legislatures can create a guidebook for legislators educating them about the tribes within the state, pertinent state-tribal issues, and protocol for tribal consultation and cooperation in policymaking.

State legislatures can educate freshman legislators about tribal issues through information sessions during their new member orientation.

State legislatures can provide tribal leaders with information on the legislative committees that address tribal issues in the state.

State legislatures can provide more in-depth educational sessions on tribal issues for legislators poised to become leadership within the next few years.

State legislatures can require the preparation of tribal impact statements describing the affect a piece of legislation may have on American Indians or tribal governments.

Return to State-Tribal Relations Home page