How Do You advance
a vision of sovereignty?
Prior to self-governance, the federal government administered almost all programs serving American Indian nations. Tribes had little control over their destiny and simply followed the orders of the bureaucracy. Self-governance was born of the resolve by tribes to escape this federal bureaucratic oversight and freely determine their own future.
The Department of Interior's Office of Self-Governance (OSG) wanted to celebrate the 20 year course of self-governance and advance the vision of tribal sovereignty. By showing the unprecedented positive impact of self-governance, OSG wanted tribal leaders, Members of Congress and Senate to invest in the promise of self-determined progress.
The U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Self Governance provides federally recognized tribes throughout the United States federal funds to function as sovereign and independent nations.
Shine a light on progress
in indian country
Our task was to produce a historical film for a national audience in support of OSG’s goal. To accomplish this, we shaped a compelling narrative establishing self-governance as the vehicle for empowering tribes to function as governments. We shined a light on the remarkable history, purpose and progress of self-governance in Indian Country.
The film featured success stories from Indian nations across the country and provided insights into the aspirations of this historic tribally driven initiative. We interviewed tribal leaders and council members, tapped into research as well as resources at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and travelled to tribal communities around the country to frame issues at the ground level.
"Self-governance means that you are in command. It is a recognition by the federal government that we can govern ourselves. And we appreciate that."
President Diane Enos
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Show the transformative
power of self-governance
To advance the vision of sovereignty, we gave broad evidence of robust programs designed and managed by tribal governments. We identified a wide range of best practices – from infrastructure to education to law enforcement to environmental protection – that illustrated the dynamic effect of self-determination. Our work demonstrated the remarkable capacity of self-governance to bring social, political, cultural and economic prosperity to native communities.
We portrayed the major successes of self-governing nations -- from Cherokee to Quinault to Hoopa Valley -- through prominent leadership voices. Leaders expressed the vital role that self-governance played in sustaining strong and stable Indian nations. They called on Congress and native people to invest in the vision of this historic initiative and protect the sacred right of Indian nations to freely govern themselves.
“The quality of life has increased so dramatically over the last three decades. And all of that is a result of Indians being allowed to go where they want to go.”
Chad Smith
Former Principal Chief
Cherokee Nation
Inspire the next generation
of tribal leaders
Self-Governance: The Next Chapter is a historical film with a clear message for its audience. It has made the concept of self-governance better understood and more widely known in Congress and Indian Country.
The Department of Interior’s OSG uses the film as a vital resource on an international scale to demonstrate the profoundly positive impact self-governance has had on native communities. It serves as a valuable tool to inform and inspire the next generation of tribal leaders to take control of their destiny.
