The 2008 Tribal Self-Governance Conference marked the 20th anniversary of Tribal Self-Governance. The theme for this year’s conference was “Celebrating Excellence.” The celebration took place at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 27 to May 1, 2008.

The premise of self-governance rests on the government-to-government relationship that exists between American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and the United States as sovereign nations. Indian tribes have always held recognition as independent sovereign nations with authority to conduct their affairs in their territories under their inherent powers.

The conference represents one of the largest meetings of tribal government leadership in Indian Country. It provides a forum for representatives from Congress, the administration and self-governance tribes to share information and to engage in discussions that focus on policy and the implementation of self-governance within the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ross Swimmer, special trustee for American Indians, participated in a panel discussion, “Historical Perspective — Sharing the Self-Governance Experience,” on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. The other speakers on this topic follow: 

• William G. Lavell, former associate solicitor of Indian Affairs and first director of the Office of Self-Governance (deceased — conference showed excerpt from video titled, “Where Eagles Fly”)
• William A. Sinclair, former director of the Office of Self-Governance
• Kenneth Reinfeld, former acting director, Office of Self-Governance
  

The moderators for this discussion included Cyndi Ferguson, director of External Governmental Affairs, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and Jerry Folsom, self-governance coordinator, Lummi Indian Nation.

OST congratulates the Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium, Self-Governance Communication and Education Staff, Office of Self-Governance, Indian Health Service and Department of the Interior on 20 years of excellence in Tribal Self-Governance.