Arizona Government Lesson 9: Indigenous Arizonans and Tribal Governments
Question 9: Within the borders laid out in the Arizona Constitution are the reservation lands of 22 indigenous tribes. Which of the following is not a tribe or group of tribes with reservation land in Arizona?
- Apache
- Hopi
- Navajo
- Inuit
Background
Article XX, Section 4 of the Arizona Constitution “disclaim[s] all right and title to… all lands lying within said boundaries owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes”—in other words, recognizing the existence of the indigenous reservations that lie within the state’s borders.
Among the contiguous states, Arizona is in the top six in terms of the percentage of Indigenous citizens (approximately 5%), and, depending on how one classifies the Oklahoma tribal statistical areas, either the most or second most Indigenous lands by area, over one-quarter of the state’s total area.
As with other nations in the world, different indigenous peoples in America have spoken a variety of languages and organized their societies and economies differently. Many, but by no means all, native peoples live on reservation land, which retains a large degree of self-government. Although most Native Americans were initially denied citizenship, as of 1924, all Native Americans are full citizens of the United States; they pay federal taxes (and other taxes, such as state income tax not earned on reservations), serve in the military, and so on.
The way that power is divided between the states and federal governments can often be quite complicated in terms of the details. The division of authority among the tribal governments, and how they interact with federal, state, and local government, is even more complicated.
Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution gives Congress (and thus the federal government) the authority to regulate interactions with tribal governments. Subsequent caselaw has largely held that this is an exclusive power, insofar as tribal governments are held to be “domestic dependent nations” which the federal government has both a power over and duty toward. The result is that the state and local governments only exercise limited jurisdiction over tribal government and reservations with the permission of the federal government (or in other cases, the consent of the tribal nations themselves).
Like states, tribal nations are largely self-governing; like states, this is not absolute, and the federal government can regulate some features of their life. Like states, the tribal governments are largely tasked with and bear presumptive sovereignty in governing the health, welfare, safety, and morals of their communities.
Many of their responsibilities, in practice, track those of local governments. That means for example, tribal governments provide public safety and law enforcement, schools, and infrastructure within their borders.
The different tribes organize themselves differently, in terms of how they distribute power among their legislative, executive, and judicial branches, how those officers will be selected, and what those will be called. For example, the Navajo have a Navajo Nation Council and a President, while the Hopi have a Tribal Council and a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Many tribal governments organize themselves and allocate representation geographically, with villages, chapters, or other areas represented. Many, but not all, have a tribal Constitution.
The federal government and tribal nations have a long history of fighting over who counts as a tribal citizen. Generally speaking, tribal nations set their own rules for determining legal citizenship (restricted by treaty agreements and other federal precedents); most tribal nations base their membership on some form of lineage/parentage. These laws are culturally derived, resulting from hundreds of years of negotiation and debate. (Note that tribal nation rules for citizenship are quite different from U.S. citizenship, which, again, tribal members also possess, in addition to state citizenship in the states in which they reside).
There are 22 federally recognized tribes here in Arizona, including several that are among the largest groups of native peoples in the contiguous United States. The most populous in Arizona and the entire nation are the Navajo, whose reservation, most of which lies in Arizona (but which also extends into Utah and New Mexico) is the biggest in the nation. Among the other larger Indigenous tribes and nations, there are several federally recognized tribes of the Apache peoples, including the White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, Tonto Apache, and the Yavapai Apache. The Pima (or Akimel O’odham) people are concentrated in the Gila and Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Communities. The Tohono O'odham (who Europeans called the Papago) has the second largest reservation, encompassing a large swath of southern Arizona. The Hopi are concentrated in a large reservation in northeastern Arizona.
Classroom Activity
Introduction
As with the states, many native peoples use constitutions to organize the politics of their societies. (Not all; for example, the Navajo Nation does not have a specific constitution but uses a lengthy legal code instead.) In this exercise, students will read and analyze an indigenous constitution from one such community. The White Mountain Apache Constitution was chosen as the default for brevity. Still, you can substitute it with a different indigenous constitution of an Arizona tribe—perhaps one nearby—by going online. (For example, one could use the Hopi Constitution, [pages 113])
Required Materials
White Mountain Apache Constitution [or substitute]
321 worksheet (available at CLC Question 36)
Provide each group with the White Mountain Apache (or substitute) constitution.
Provide each student with the 321 worksheet.
Instructions
- This activity works well as an individual assignment. However, depending on the age and/or skills level of the students, you may want to have them work in pairs.
- If that is the case, divide the class into pairs based on the students’ individual levels. Group A is the group that needs some extra support. Group B is the core group that has the core knowledge to complete the activity. Group C is the enrichment group who have mastered the material and are prepared to extend their knowledge. Pair those who need support (Group A) with those who have core knowledge and/or have mastered the material (Groups B and C).
- Explain to the students that today they are going to read a constitution used by one of Arizona’s indigenous communities
- After they complete the reading, they will fill out a 321 Worksheet where they write down three facts that they learned, two questions that they have, and one opinion.
- Circulate throughout the room to help students as needed.
- Once the students complete the worksheet, use it as a springboard for a class discussion. Other questions to discuss: how is this constitution different from or similar to the U.S. Constitution? How is it different from or identical to the Arizona Constitution?
Prompts:
1. Can you share some information about an indigenous tribe in Arizona and their significance?
2. What factors might have influenced indigenous Americans, such as the Navajo men who became Code Talkers, to enlist in the military during World War II? How do you think their contributions impacted the war effort?
Vocabulary List:
1. Indigenous – The people who lived in a place before others arrived.
2. Reservation – Land set aside by the government for Native American tribes to live on.
3. Tribal Government – The government run by Native American tribes.
4. Federal Government – The national government of the United States.
5. State Government – The government that operates at the level of a specific state, like Arizona.
6. Self-Government – The ability of a group of people to govern themselves.
7. Sovereignty – The right to govern yourself or your people.
8. Citizenship – The status of being a legal member of a country or nation.
9. Legislative Branch – The part of the government that makes laws.
10. Executive Branch – The part of the government that enforces laws.
11. Judicial Branch – The part of the government that interprets laws.
12. Treaty – A formal agreement between two or more nations.
13. Lineage/Parentage – The family or ancestors someone comes from.
14. Caselaw – Legal decisions made by courts that interpret laws.
15. Jurisdiction – The authority or power to make decisions and enforce laws in a certain area or over certain issues.
16. Constitution – A set of important rules for how a government works.
17. Public Safety – Services that keep people safe, like police and fire departments.
18. Infrastructure – Basic services and facilities, like roads and schools, that support a community.
Article XX, Section 4 of the Arizona Constitution says that the state of Arizona recognizes that the lands owned by Native American tribes within its borders are part of reservations. This means that the state understands that Native Americans have their own land and government on these reservations.
Arizona has one of the highest percentages of indigenous citizens in the United States, with about 5% of its population being Native American. In fact, over one-quarter of the state’s total area is reservation land. Depending on how you count the tribal lands in Oklahoma, Arizona has either the most or the second most Indigenous land in the country.
Native American tribes have their own cultures, languages, and ways of organizing their societies. Some Native Americans live on reservations, where they can largely govern themselves. While they were not originally considered U.S. citizens, in 1924, all Native Americans were granted full U.S. citizenship. Now, they pay taxes, serve in the military, and have the same rights as other U.S. citizens.
The way power is divided between federal and state governments can be complicated, but it is even more complex with tribal governments. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to manage relationships with Native American tribes, which means that the federal government has the final say over tribal matters. State and local governments can only have control over tribal lands if the federal government or the tribes themselves agree.
Like state governments, tribal governments are responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of their people. They provide services such as law enforcement, schools, and public safety, just like local governments do.
Each tribe organizes its government in its own way. For example, the Navajo have a Navajo Nation Council and a President, while the Hopi have a Tribal Council and a Chairman. Many tribes also organize themselves geographically, with different areas, like villages, being represented in their government. Some tribes have their own Constitutions as the states and the United States do.
One issue that both the federal government and tribal nations have debated for a long time is who can be considered a member of a tribe. Generally, each tribe sets its own rules for citizenship, usually based on family ancestry. These rules have been developed over hundreds of years and are different from U.S. citizenship rules.
Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, including some of the largest Native American groups in the United States. The Navajo Nation is the most populous, with the largest reservation in the country, covering parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Other major tribes include the Apache, Pima (Akimel O’odham), Tohono O'odham, and the Hopi. These tribes have a rich history and continue to play an important role in the state’s culture and government today.
3rd Grade Lesson Plan: Ancestral Tribes of Arizona / First Footprints in Arizona
Learning Objectives: 3rd grade Arizona History and Social Science standards focus on the storyline of Arizona. It is important to lead students in exploring the early people who lived in what is today called Arizona and explore their lives along with the legacy they left behind and what is still influencing our lives today.
3rd Grade Lesson Plan: Arizona Peoples Then and Now - What a difference 100 years makes!
Lesson Summary:
Students will study primary source documents to understand the 22 tribal nations of Arizona and compare their lives in the 1900’s to their lives in the 2020’s. They will use their comparisons to explain how people build community and engage with the land, as well as how the environment has impacted their lives and communities both then and now
Additional Learning Materials
Vocabulary List:
1. Indigenous – The first people who lived in a place before others arrived.
2. Reservation – Land set aside by the government for Native American tribes.
3. Tribe – A group of Native Americans with their own culture, traditions, and government.
4. Government – A group of people who make rules and help run a community, state, or country.
5. Federal Government – The national government of the United States.
6. State Government – The government that helps run a state, like Arizona.
7. Citizenship – Being a legal member of a country, like the United States.
8. Law – Rules that people must follow.
9. Constitution – A set of important rules for how a government works.
10. Public Safety – Keeping people safe, like police and firefighters do.
11. Infrastructure – Things like roads, schools, and water that help a community work.
Background
The Arizona Constitution says that the state recognizes Native American lands, called reservations, that are inside Arizona. This means that the government knows that these lands belong to Native American tribes.
Arizona has one of the largest groups of Native Americans in the country—about 5% of the people in the state are Native American. A big part of Arizona, over one quarter of the land, is made up of reservations where many Native Americans live. Arizona might even have the most Native American land of any state!
Native American tribes have their own cultures, languages, and governments. Some Native Americans live on reservations, where they can run things themselves. A long time ago, Native Americans didn’t have U.S. citizenship, but in 1924, they were granted citizenship. Now, they have the same rights and responsibilities as other Americans, like paying taxes and serving in the military.
It can be tricky to understand how the power is shared between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government. The U.S. Constitution says that the federal government is in charge of working with Native American tribes. This means that the state of Arizona can only be in charge of some things on reservations if the federal government or the tribe says it’s okay.
Tribal governments help keep their communities safe and take care of things like schools, police, and roads, just like local governments do.
Each tribe has its own way of organizing its government. For example, the Navajo Nation has a council and a president, while the Hopi tribe has a council and a chairman. Some tribes also have their own Constitutions, just like states and the U.S. do.
One important question that tribes and the government have talked about for a long time is who can be a member of a tribe. Most tribes decide this based on family history. These rules are different from how the United States decides who is a citizen.
Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes. Some of the biggest tribes in the state are the Navajo, the Apache, the Pima (Akimel O’odham), the Tohono O'odham, and the Hopi. These tribes are an important part of Arizona’s history and continue to make the state special today!