Name:
30 DAYS : “INDIAN RESERVATION”
TERM(S)/BACKGROUND INFO:
Sovereignty: Supremacy of authority exercised by a self-governing state; a basic tenet is the power of a
people to govern themselves.
Tribal governments have self-governance powers that include: the right to form their own
government; the power to make and enforce both civil and criminal laws; the power to tax; the
power to establish membership; the right to license, zone and regulate activities; the power to
engage in commercial activity; and the power to exclude persons (Indian and non-Indian) from
tribal territories.
VIEWING QUESTIONS:
1. According to the video, why has alcohol become such a large problem for many American
Indians?
2. What is the significance of the sweat lodge to the Navajo people?
3. The video showed many ways that outside forces have shaped the situation of the Navajo
people. Give (and explain) two examples of this.
4. How has watching this episode of 30 Days changed your thoughts about the American Indian
culture? Explain.