No, assistance to US tribal nations isn’t foreign aid - PolitiFact

No, assistance to US tribal nations isn’t overseas aid

Renewable vigor and the modulation distant from fossil fuels is simply a cardinal contented for the Arizona Corporation Commission. In a caller debate, Republican campaigner Nick Myers said that neither the authorities oregon inferior rate-payers should compensate the Navajo Nation for the closing of a ample coal-powered powerfulness works adjacent Page, Arizona. 

"It’s not the occupation of the rate-payers successful Arizona to get into overseas aid," Myers said successful the Sept. 12 statement connected Arizona PBS. "If you’re talking astir tribal lands, overseas assistance comes nether the national government." 

Federal assistance to tribal governments is not overseas aid.

Tribal nations are sovereign, not foreign

While the Navajo Nation has "nation" successful its name, it’s not considered a overseas government. The Supreme Court rulings of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) and Worcester v. Georgia (1832) defined tribal nations arsenic "domestic babelike nations." That applies to the 574 federally-recognized Native American tribes successful the United States. 

The onshore of the Navajo Nation was primitively inhabited by the indigenous Navajo. The American authorities took it away, and established the existent preservation boundaries.

Through legislature acts specified arsenic the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975, federally-recognized tribes are capable to workout greater sovereignty successful their governmental affairs. The national authorities provides immoderate enactment for education, wellness and societal services. 

The budgets of the State Department and the Department of the Interior for 2023 amusement the Interior Department has a dedicated Indian Affairs section. The State Department fund has nary programs for tribal nations.

Myers told PolitiFact that the National Congress of American Indians, an enactment aimed astatine ensuring the rights of tribes, "seems to beryllium arrogant of being independent, federally recognized nations." He added that the State Department says "they are liable for making U.S. payments to planetary organizations."

Neither information makes tribal groups eligible for overseas aid.

Coal works closures interaction tribal communities

In November 2019, the coal-fired powerfulness works known arsenic the Navajo Generating Station adjacent Page, Arizona, and the Kayenta excavation that provided the ember for the works permanently closed. The closure impacted the surrounding assemblage and the Navajo Nation, costing hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars successful mislaid revenue. 

The Arizona Corporation Commission held respective meetings wherever residents from the Navajo Nation and neighboring Hopi Nation called for assistance to assistance modulation to renewable vigor and for economical recovery. No determination has been made, and the caller members of the Arizona Corporation Commission are expected to look this contented successful the aboriginal arsenic different coal-fired powerfulness plants adjacent the Navajo Nation are expected to close. 

Our Ruling

Myers said that fiscal assistance fixed to tribal nations falls nether "foreign aid" which "comes nether the national government." 

The U.S. Supreme Court and the national laws specify 574 federally-recognized tribal nations arsenic "domestic babelike nations." Federal wealth for tribal governments chiefly flows done the U.S. Interior Department and is not classified arsenic overseas aid.

We complaint this assertion Pants connected Fire.

Arizona PBS, Corporation Commission debate, Sept. 12, 2022

National Conference of State Legislatures, An Issue of Sovereignty, Jan. 2013

Arizona Republic, Navajo residents question ‘just and equitable’ assistance aft closure of powerfulness plant, ember mine, July 12, 2022

GovInfo, Budget of the United States Government, accessed Sept. 29, 2022

GovInfo, Department of the Interior fund FY 2023, accessed Sept. 29, 2022

GovInfo, Department of State and Other International Programs FY 2023 budget, accessed Sept. 29, 2022

United States Department of Justice, Federal Trust Doctrine First Described by Supreme Court, accessed May 14, 2015

National Congress of American Indians, Mission and history, accessed Sept. 29, 2022

Email exchange, Nick Myers, Republican candidate, Arizona Corporation Commission, Oct. 4, 2022

Email exchange, Melissa Schwartz, Director of Communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, Sept. 29, 2022

Email exchange, Department of State Press Office, Sept. 27, 2022