N american native govt. systems

Euan R. Taylor (etaylor@ccu.umanitoba.ca)
Tue, 1 Jun 1993 18:18:23 GMT


[ This article relayed from the Usenet "soc.culture.native" newsgroup ]

Dear all,
I am writing a short article about the tradidtional governmental systems
of tha aboriginal groups in Northa America (actually Canada to be quite
specific).
I have done a certain amount of research so far, but most of the
information I have got is quite dry (ie. from, very academic studies with
very little personal insight into the ways that the clan system and the
heriditary chief system for instance - really function at the human level).
I would be very interested to hear from anyone with personal experience of
living/working in a community operating on a "traditional" political
system (as opposed to the imposed band council format).
I would also like to find some written references that might help me to
get a good - quick overview of the variety and nature of the traditional
governmental systems which are currently fuctioning or reviving in North
America.

All ideas welcome
many thanks in advance
euan

--
Usual disclaimers. These are my own opinions and probably nobody else's.
etaylor@ccu.umanitoba.ca
"All great truths begin life as blasphemies"  George Bernard Shaw