Indigenous Communities are Inclusivity Experts—Municipal Governments Can Be Too
By Margaret Friedenauer
Community economic development and planning efforts are often defined as an “inclusive” process. But how inclusive are those efforts? For example, how is the Indigenous perspective included and valued in the planning processes of your community? Tribal governments are strategically positioned partners for local and regional governments that are often overlooked in planning and economic development efforts.
The recent windfall of federal funding has highlighted the importance of these partnerships. There are significant funding opportunities for Indigenous communities. Some of these monies, particularly rapid pandemic response funds, were quick to move out the door. Tribal sovereignty meant these funds often were put to use more quickly than funds that moved through state governments, local governments, or other organizations. The benefits of Tribal vaccine clinics, health outreach, food programs, and other economic supports often benefited non-Indigenous communities outside of reservation borders.
Take for example the rollout of COVID vaccines in Alaska. Tribal health organizations in Alaska chose to take allocations of vaccines from the “sovereign nation supplement” set aside, rather than the state rollout. This allowed rural, Indigenous communities access to vaccines sooner than many residents in cities like Anchorage. Tribal providers were able to prioritize vaccine distribution for elders and healthcare workers, but many non-Indigenous residents in rural areas were part of that outreach as well.
The same is true of recent planning efforts in response to federal funding opportunities. Tribal governments and Indigenous communities have had to quickly position themselves to take full advantage of funding opportunities that continue to flow from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
While these monies have been called “once in a generation” opportunities, Tribal communities have the knowledge and experience to spread the effects of this funding over several generations. Indigenous communities have been planners for thousands of years, using traditional knowledge to adapt, thrive, and grow before, after, and despite Western influence and colonization.
Take for instance the federal money made available for expanding high-speed internet across the country. Billions have been made available for communities and some of that money was earmarked specifically for Tribal communities. The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) in August announced it added $1 billion from the infrastructure law to the current Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. This is in addition to the nearly $ one billion to expand high-speed internet service on Tribal lands. (The combined amounts are still less than the $5 billion in funding requests NTIA has received.)
In many regions, Tribal communities are economic drivers, creating workforce opportunities for non-Tribal members, spreading spending power outside reservation boundaries, and creating infrastructure projects that often provide regional benefits. For example, the nearly $2 billion in internet grants earmarked for Tribal entities will have a wide impact on communities and businesses in and outside of Tribal lands.
When the NTIA announced a funding award from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program to the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), it noted how AFN had partnered with 74 consortium members to leverage its grant application. AFN representatives noted how the award would reach beyond just Indigenous communities.
“Today’s announcement illustrates how the Alaska Native community thinks and works,” AFN Co-Chair Joe Nelson said in a press release about the announcement. “We’re masters of inclusivity. The digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth, and distance learning opportunities that AFN’s broadband consortium will bring about over the next year will serve all Alaskans, Native and non-Native alike, for decades to come.”
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy called the award an “all-of-Alaska-approach” in the same press release.
While several Alaska communities have begun to recognize the importance of partnering with Indigenous neighbors, the efforts have recently been expanding to the lower 48 states.
In 2019, Albuquerque, New Mexico became the first U.S. city to officially recognize Tribal sovereignty by signing local legislation establishing government-to-government relations with nearby pueblos and Tribal governments.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said at the time of the bill’s passage, “We are proud to recognize and honor our surrounding sovereign Tribes as true government-to-government partners …. Our relationship impacts public safety, employment, health, homelessness, and quality of life for all people.”
The relationship was highlighted at a panel and presentation at the 2021 Alaska Municipal League Annual Conference focused on “Leading Models for Municipal-Tribal Cooperation and Effective Local Governance.”
Nome City Councilmember Meghan Sigvanna Topkok took part in the panel. She is also part of the National League of Cities Indigenous Municipal Officials working group. She ran for municipal office to help create an atmosphere where more Indigenous people felt comfortable taking part in local governmental processes.
“We’ve lived on lands for thousands of years, we’ve taken care of these lands, but because of colonization, we haven’t always had a role or a space within these institutions,” she said.
Most speakers on the panel noted how Tribal organizations and municipal governments often have similar goals in their strategic planning. Both groups work to address similar issues like public safety, infrastructure, and qualify of life. For rural communities, these priorities could collide with several entities jostling to fund or address these issues. But leveraging partnerships between Tribal and municipal governments can maximize resources and build stronger communities overall.
“We can partner together and leverage that for our respective citizens,” Topkok said. “Alaska Native people are multi-citizens; we’re citizens of our Tribal nations, we’re citizens of our municipalities, of our state, or our federal government. So, we have a lot of different hats we end up wearing and we all have different access to different opportunities so finding ways to work together and mesh those opportunities can be really critical.”
Creating and sustaining these relationships takes time, intention, and trust. The Alaska Governance Project works to encourage “ongoing dialogue, the sharing of information, and continued open discussion as ways to advance issues and shed light on the unique challenges facing municipal, tribal, sovereign, rural and urban governance in Alaska.” The organization offers advice for municipalities on establishing stronger relationships with Tribes:
Do your homework to learn about local and regional tribes and cultivate respect for Tribal viewpoints and practices. Acknowledge Tribes as separate and equal sovereign entities and regard tribal leaders as heads-of-state.
Dialogue with tribal partners about intent. This is a crucial step. Municipalities should ensure tribes are interested in developing partnerships before they are codified via ordinance. Tribes should have time to consider and adopt their own resolutions in support of proposed agreements.
Evaluate existing city government practices and routines to change the structures and behavior that resulted in the neglect of Tribal nations in the past. Use the new behavior to build better relationships with tribes.
Embrace Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to help create the needed level of trust between municipalities and tribes.
About the Author
Margaret Friedenauer is an Associate Planner with Agnew::Beck Consulting in Anchorage, AK. Meg is a recent associate at Agnew::Beck. She previously worked with Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference as the economic development advocate and as an economic development recovery coordinator with Tribes in Northern Wisconsin during the pandemic. She lived almost 10 years in Southeast Alaska and headed up the formation of the Haines Economic Development Corporation, working closely with the community to cultivate economic resiliency. She also worked for a decade as an Alaska journalist in public radio and newspapers in Haines and Fairbanks. With these experiences, Meg helps bring together stakeholders to explore their shared visions and is skilled in creatively communicating ideas across various mediums. She works with the planning team at Agnew::Beck to help guide Alaskan’s to create positive change in their communities by cultivating healthier, sustainable community and economic development practices.