GSA-The General Services Administration
The online source I reviewed for Module 3 was the GSA guidelines for Tribal Consultation with the Federal Government:
The site is created by the GSA. The General Services Administration is an umbrella agency for the Federal Government that manages the logistics of all the federal agencies. It provides facilities, properties, products and communications to all federal agencies. Its overview helps with consistency and support government-wide initiatives.
The page on Tribal Consultation includes history of current Executive Branch and GSA policy with web links. The language used to introduce the history described the relationship between the United States Government and Native Peoples as unique and special. This language is encouraging but I am not sure how true it is.
I found the inconsistency of language interesting.The page referenced above refers in the very first sentence to "Indian Tribes," Although the the GSA policy ADM1072.1 orders that the term used be Native American. That policy can be found here:
A link in the side bar to a page on "Strategies for Successful Tribal Consultation" discusses how cultural sensitivity is important and it can be gained by regional/local knowledge. I question how often that is taken into account when agencies are dealing with native groups. Another link goes to a page that explains the National Historic Preservation Act which defines what tribe is and that as of 2003 there were 562 federally recognized tribes by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
I think it is beneficial to see the current literature and vocabulary used in Federal Government matters dealing with Native American Tribes. I think this site is very specific to serve the needs of federal agencies and not educate the general public. In an academic study including current Native American political and economic issues, it is important to view primary source material. These websites are resources for federal employees but also informative for academics.
Excellent insights here...the concept of inconsistencies is also interesting. One point to mention is what native peoples prefer to call themselves versus what non-native peoples like to call them. This is an interesting debate in Indian Country and I think you can see it playing out in the rhetoric on this site. Good review!
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