From time to time, we like to look at the state of law, policy, and economics regarding the many federally-recognized Indian tribes. What does this have to do with Hawaii? Simple–one of the functions of this project is to explore the full story behind the implications of and motivations for the Akaka Bill. Mostly, we look at granting and policy related to Native Hawaiians. But, the relentless push for federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian “tribe” means that the political and economic implications of tribal policy is of vital importance to anyone who wants to fully consider what an Akaka Bill-based “tribe” will mean for Hawaii.
One of the ironies of this is that–as incomplete a picture that we may have of spending related to Native Hawaiians (and this project is a pioneer in that field), less is known about the details of federal spending regarding the more than 500 tribes listed in the Federal Register as Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. Fortunately, through the work of some dedicated researchers, we are able to offer this initial list–an audit of federal Indian policy dollars. Of course, there’s a lot more work to do, and we can always use some more help. So check it out and contact us at 4hawaiiansonly@gmail.com if you’re interested in helping add to the research.