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Felix Cohen (1907-1953) was a leading architect of the Indian New
Deal and steadfast champion of American Indian rights. Appointed to
the Department of the Interior in 1933, he helped draft the Indian
Reorganization Act (1934) and chaired a committee charged with
assisting tribes in organizing their governments. His ""Basic
Memorandum on Drafting of Tribal Constitutions,"" submitted in
November 1934, provided practical guidelines for that
effort.Largely forgotten until Cohen's papers were released more
than half a century later, the memorandum now receives the
attention it has long deserved. David E. Wilkins presents the
entire work, edited and introduced with an essay that describes its
origins and places it in historical context. Cohen recommended that
each tribe consider preserving ancient traditions that offered
wisdom to those drafting constitutions. Strongly opposed to
""sending out canned constitutions from Washington,"" he offered
ideas for incorporating Indigenous political, social, and cultural
knowledge and structure into new tribal constitutions. On the
Drafting of Tribal Constitutions shows that concepts of Indigenous
autonomy and self-governance have been vital to Native nations
throughout history. As today's tribal governments undertake reform,
Cohen's memorandum again offers a wealth of insight on how best to
amend previous constitutions. It also helps scholars better
understand the historic policy shift brought about by the Indian
Reorganization Act.
Felix Cohen (1907-1953) was a leading architect of the Indian New
Deal and steadfast champion of American Indian rights. Appointed to
the Department of the Interior in 1933, he helped draft the Indian
Reorganization Act (1934) and chaired a committee charged with
assisting tribes in organizing their governments. His ""Basic
Memorandum on Drafting of Tribal Constitutions,"" submitted in
November 1934, provided practical guidelines for that
effort.Largely forgotten until Cohen's papers were released more
than half a century later, the memorandum now receives the
attention it has long deserved. David E. Wilkins presents the
entire work, edited and introduced with an essay that describes its
origins and places it in historical context. Cohen recommended that
each tribe consider preserving ancient traditions that offered
wisdom to those drafting constitutions. Strongly opposed to
""sending out canned constitutions from Washington,"" he offered
ideas for incorporating Indigenous political, social, and cultural
knowledge and structure into new tribal constitutions. On the
Drafting of Tribal Constitutions shows that concepts of Indigenous
autonomy and self-governance have been vital to Native nations
throughout history. As today's tribal governments undertake reform,
Cohen's memorandum again offers a wealth of insight on how best to
amend previous constitutions. It also helps scholars better
understand the historic policy shift brought about by the Indian
Reorganization Act.
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