Indigenous Policy in the American States

• In Event: Policymaking and Responsiveness in States and Localities

Abstract

The presence of state-level legislation that addresses Indigenous issues is well established in the literature (Witmer, Johnson and Boehmke 2014, Hannah, Deloria and Trimble 2012, Evans 2011, Corntassel and Witmer 2008). In this paper we seek to update and expand our understanding of the amount and type of public policy that has been proposed and passed in the American states since 2010. In addition, we seek to expand our understanding of the types of Native American legislation on the state policy agenda by considering whether proposed and passed bills are symbolic (appeal to a value or belief) or substantive (provide material benefit or power to Native nations or people). Finally, we identify a number of attributes of the sponsors of Native focused legislation to identify who is proposing legislation and whether some state legislators are better able to pass their policy proposals.

Authors

• Richard C. Witmer, Creighton University

• Frederick J. Boehmke, University of Iowa

• Joshua Johnson, Kennesaw State University