What is the Indian Self-Government Act?

The Indian Self-Government Act is a law passed by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1994 that gives tribes in the state greater legal authority over their own internal affairs. The law was designed to empower Native American tribes in Oklahoma to exercise greater control over their own local governments and legal systems. Under the act, tribes can create their own local government systems in compliance with their own tribal laws, as well as those of the state government. This includes the ability to form their own tax systems, issue titles and permits, manage natural resources, establish criminal and civil court systems, and pass laws and regulations that apply only to tribal members. The Indian Self-Government Act also protects tribes from being subjected to laws, ordinances or zoning regulations that conflict with tribal laws or infringe upon tribal sovereignty. It also enables tribes to negotiate agreements with other tribal governments, state and local authorities, and other entities. The Indian Self-Government Act has been extremely beneficial to Oklahoma’s Native American tribes, providing them with greater autonomy and self-governance. By granting tribes greater legal authority within their own territories, the act has enabled them to reclaim and reassert their political, cultural, and economic rights.

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What is the Indian Self-Government Act?

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