Conference
Policy Analysis in Indian Country - June 19-20, 2008
K’é bil nastii: Making policy from Traditional Perspectives. Policy Analysis in Indian Country Tsaile, Navajo Nation (AZ) June 19-20, 2008
Indian Country has yet to critically evaluate the policy-making and policy analysis processes it uses. These processes affect the implementation of traditional norms and values in Tribal policy settings.
Policy analysis is often viewed as a benign process that does not impact the use of traditional principles. Yet, when examined carefully, policy analysis frames and problemitizes issues in a western frame. Analysts (e.g. attorneys, staff assistants, program directors/managers, elected officials, and researchers, and so forth) in Indian Country then work within that western frame, attempting to apply traditional values. This poses a problem as to validity of cultural appropriate policy outcomes. If the traditional value is framed in western notions, how then does the outcome promote traditional values? Policy analysis and policy-making impacts how traditional values and norms are used; autonomy over values and their use is given up to the dominant policy analysis and policy-making processes.
This conference will shed light on the following questions:
1. How do Indigenous people create a policy analysis process based on Indigenous worldviews that sustains, supports and preserves traditional values and norms in contemporary policy settings?
2. How do Indigenous people create a shared governance policy framework that is also understood by non Indigenous society?
3. How do Indigenous people mitigate the negative impacts resulting from the usage of dominant policy tools in Tribal policy settings?
For more information please call Moroni Benally at 928 724-6944.
Policy Conference Information
• Conference Announcements (pdf)
• Travel and Accomodations Information (pdf)