Master of Public Administration
Date
5-2025
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Department
School of Professional Studies
Chief Instructor
Mary Piecewicz
Keywords
federal tribes, hiring practices, Bureau of Indian Affairs, kinship, tribe, sovereign nation
Abstract
In the United States, there are currently 574 federally recognized Tribal nations. Both employers and applicants face challenges in the hiring process. Tribes may face challenges finding qualified applicants with the necessary skills for specific roles. A less-qualified employee may result in less impactful program outcomes, lower revenue, discouraged employees, and higher turnover rates. In addition, hiring an employee who doesn’t understand Tribal culture may result in ineffective programs, policies, and/or miscommunication. For those looking to work for a Tribal government, applicants often find challenges in that hiring preferences/policies (P&Ps) are different from Tribe to Tribe and not posted in standard locations. Unenrolled Native Americans may be placed lower on a hiring list or face ineligibility altogether. This research paper, survey and analysis explore these challenges.
Recommended Citation
Livoti, Kristen Gutierrez, "Hiring Preferences of Federally Recognized Tribes: Survey and Analysis" (2025). Master of Public Administration. 5.
https://commons.clarku.edu/mpa/5
