Program Aids Native Americans

Researchers at the Kennedy School of Government met this week with Crow Indian Nation representatives as part of continuing research efforts to help the Montana residents develop their economy and government.

Richard Real Bird, chairman of the Crow nation, discussed the research program's status with professors involved with the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. The program began two years ago to help the Crow capitalize on the greater political autonomy recently granted them through legislative and judicial action, researchers said.

The chairman also delivered a speech yesterday afternoon at the K-School discussing the future of American Indian nations.

"We are trying to help the tribes develop the strategic planning capabilities and strategic visions that allow them to successfully undertake their development." Professor of Political Economy Joseph P. Kalt said.

In an interview with The Crimson, Real Bird described the Crow Nation as a people living in poverty despite their ownership of many natural resources. However, political changes were needed to exploit the reserves, he said.

"To develop all the resources we have requires some change in the form of government," Real Bird said. "This is why we need the Kennedy School to help."

Real Bird said that while under the management of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Crow could not substantially promote their economy because of the bureaucracy involved in running the Montana reservation.

"A lot of the time [our old constitution] prevented us from getting into the development of our resources," Real Birdsaid. "Many times we had to play politics with ourresources and our rights."

Kalt said that K-School researchers will helpthe Crow Nation take advantage of their tremendouscoal and lumber reserves using their newly wonright to self-determination.

He added that the professors have also studiedpolitical, economic and social development on amore general basis, both in the Crow nation andother Native American nations.

"We are trying from a pure research angle toexamine the context for what it can teach aboutdifferent approaches to economic development invery rural contexts," Kalt said.

The professor said that K-School faculty andstudents hope their research will help to improvefederal policy regarding Native American nations.

Research completed thus far indicates that thebest way to improve the economies of NativeAmerican states is to grant them greater autonomy,Kalt said.

"The federal government has often preached thatif tribes want political and social sovereignty,they first have to have a strong economy," Kaltsaid. "We think this is backwards. If tribes wanta successful economy, they first need politicalsovereignty. They need to break away from theirrelationship with the federal government."

In a report published last year by theK-School's Energy and Environmental Policy Center,Kalt said that "as tribes come to really own theirown resources, as they really come to plan, manageand bear the consequences of the use ofreservation resources, tribes are more directlysubjected to the incentives for development ofwise economic policies and management."

Kalt said yesterday on Native American affairs,"It's real to the tribe. It's not all that real toa bureaucrat.