Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

Date

5-2025

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

Department

School of Professional Studies

Chief Instructor

Mary M. Piecewicz, MBA, MSPC,PMP

Keywords

P&P (Preferences and Policies); FRT - Federlly Recognized Tribes, Indian Appropriation Act, Indian Removal Act, Dawes Act, Native American

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. Questions remain unanswered about whether current hiring preferences and policies of federally recognized Tribes (FRTs) support Tribal sovereignty and culture. The comparative analysis and survey were conducted to compile and analyze what hiring P&Ps (preferences & policies) currently exist throughout Indian Country and on what legislation P&Ps were based. If Tribal governments believe the preferences utilized positively or negatively support each Tribe’s cultural, professional, and sovereign needs, or do a higher percentage of Tribes exercise sovereignty by creating their specific hiring P&Ps? The importance of this research is critical in understanding whether the needs of Tribes are being met concerning hiring qualified employees who will provide more impactful work for the future of the Tribe and its members. This research will also help to identify any dependency of Tribes in citing federal legislation as their hiring P&Ps, and if that legislation supports Tribal sovereignty. The results of this research will help bring to light any current weaknesses and/or strengths of Tribes concerning hiring preferences and policies, which will result in more impactful work for Tribes and Tribal members. In addition, results are hoped to open discussion within tribes to understand the importance of creating P&Ps crafted specifically for their needs and to understand any impact from utilizing P&Ps based on federal legislation

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