The relatively new political philosophy by which the United States governs its people differs quite radically from how Native people have governed themselves for millennia. That said, Indigenous folks who are members of federally recognized tribes can participate in elections for both. How do they maintain tribal sovereignty while engaging in Western-style democracy––a system with…Read more

How does the tribal ideal of cooperative agreement square with the “founding fathers” vision for majority rule? And what obligation do tribal communities have in honoring the settler system of governance? Encounter Culture host Charlotte Jusinski and series co-host Stephanie Padilla (Isleta, Laguna Cochiti), dig into the complexities of tribal sovereignty, systems of government, and…Read more

How do you take the measure of a man, especially one as reticent about his history-making accomplishment as Miguel Trujillo? If you’ve never heard of Miguel or Trujillo v. Garley, the landmark 1948 case that provided Native Americans residing on tribal lands in New Mexico the right to vote, settle in for this intimate portrait…Read more