Governance
Governance
The Native Village of Eyak (NVE) is a federally recognized Tribal government serving NVE Tribal Members. Like all Tribal Nations, NVE is a sovereign government with the inherent authority and responsibility to govern its people, protect its homelands, and carry forward cultural and community priorities.
A Tribal government is the governing body of an Indigenous Nation. Tribal governments existed long before the formation of the United States and continue today as self-determining political entities. Tribal Nations maintain their own citizenship, laws, leadership structures, and responsibilities, rooted in ancestral homelands, cultural teachings, and relationships within the community. Tribal governments provide essential services, uphold Tribal law, protect land and resources, and advocate for their citizens through government-to-government relationships with federal, state, and local entities.
Central to this work is Tribal sovereignty. Sovereignty is the inherent right of a people to govern themselves, and for the Native Village of Eyak, it is not something granted by Congress or the federal government. Sovereignty comes from our ancestors, our land and waters, our cultural responsibilities, and our continued existence as a distinct people. Federal institutions may recognize Tribal sovereignty, but they do not create it. Tribal sovereignty has existed since time immemorial.
Tribal sovereignty includes the inherent powers Tribes have always held as Indigenous Nations, authorities carried through federal agreements, and retained rights that were never surrendered, including cultural and subsistence responsibilities. With sovereignty comes a sacred responsibility to protect our lands and waters, care for citizens, families, and Elders, uphold cultural identity, plan for future generations, and engage in diplomacy and intergovernmental relations.
For much of the last century, many Tribal programs were administered by federal agencies, with funding decisions often made outside the community and local priorities frequently overlooked. Under Self-Governance, Tribes reclaim control. Through Self-Governance, the Native Village of Eyak can design programs that reflect community needs, deliver culturally grounded services, hire and manage Tribal staff directly, strengthen local accountability, reduce bureaucracy, and manage resources with Indigenous leadership. Self-Governance restores Indigenous control over Indigenous programs and supports Tribal Nations in building strong, responsive governments for their people.