History and Case Brief of the Mesa Grande Tribe Land Dispute

Description
A land dispute between two Native tribes in the California mountains is analyzed. Mesa Grande's perspective is highlighted through a full history of the tribe, an interview with members of the tribe, and an analysis of where the parcels are

A land dispute between two Native tribes in the California mountains is analyzed. Mesa Grande's perspective is highlighted through a full history of the tribe, an interview with members of the tribe, and an analysis of where the parcels are geographically. To understand the full land battle, a review of the history of the battle, case brief, and counterarguments will be presented. The thesis will then delve into the ambiguities in government language that led to Mesa Grande’s understanding that the disputed land was theirs and review evidence that the land was long intended to be Mesa Grande by the federal government. Many of these points were ignored by the federal court system in their early rulings.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Development of the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Tribal Building Projects

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Description
Construction project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of building projects but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for the complexities of tribal building projects. A needs assessment conducted by the author comprising

Construction project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of building projects but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for the complexities of tribal building projects. A needs assessment conducted by the author comprising interviews with practitioners familiar with construction on tribal lands revealed the need for a front end planning (FEP) process to assess scope definition of capital projects on tribal lands. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts to develop a front end planning tool for tribal building projects, the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Tribal Building Projects. The author convened a research team to review, analyze, and adapt an existing building-projects-focused FEP tool, the PDRI – Building Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 67 specific elements relevant to the planning of tribal building projects. The author supported the facilitation of seven workshops in which 20 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed to develop a preliminary weighted score sheet that corresponds to the element descriptions. Given that the author was only able to collect complete data from 11 projects, definitively determining element weights was not possible. Therefore, the author leveraged a Delphi study to test the PDRI – Tribal Building Projects. Delphi study results indicate the PDRI – Tribal Building Projects element descriptions fully address the scope of tribal building projects, and 75 percent of panelists agreed they would use this tool on their next tribal project. The author also explored the PDRI – Tribal Building Projects tool through the lens of the Diné (Navajo) Philosophy of Sa’ąh Naagháí Bik’eh Hózhóón (SNBH) and the guiding principles of Nistáhákees (thinking), Nahat’á (planning), Iiná (living), and Sihasin (assurance/reflection). The results of the author’s research provides several contributions to the American Indian Studies, front end planning, and tribal building projects bodies of knowledge: 1) defining unique features of tribal projects, 2) explicitly documenting the synergies between Western and Diné ways of planning, and 3) creating a tool to assist in planning capital projects on tribal lands in the American Southwest in support of improved cost performance.
Date Created
2022
Agent

Reforming Federal Indian Housing Programs: The Socio-Cultural, Political, & Health Benefits of Utilizing Indigenous Epistemologies & Architecture

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Description
The relationship between settler-colonial governments and Indigenous nations has been a contentious one, filled with disingenuity and fueled by the abuse of power dynamics. Specifically, colonial governments have repeatedly used power in mapping, cultural Othering, resource control, and research

The relationship between settler-colonial governments and Indigenous nations has been a contentious one, filled with disingenuity and fueled by the abuse of power dynamics. Specifically, colonial governments have repeatedly used power in mapping, cultural Othering, resource control, and research methodologies to assimilate, acculturate, or otherwise dominate every aspect of Indigenous lives. A relatively recent pushback from Indigenous peoples led to the slow reclamation of sovereignty, including in the United States. Revamped federal Indian programs allegedly promote tribal self-determination, yet they paradoxically serve a vast quantity of cultures through singular blanket programs that are blind to the cultural component of Indigenous identity - the centerfold of colonial aggression for centuries. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing is no exception, using a Western framework to provide generic services that neither serve cultural needs nor are tailored to the specific environment traditional homes were historically and epistemologically suited for. This research analyzes the successes of new programs as well as the failures of the federal government to conduct responsible research and promote the authentic self-determination of tribes in terms of housing and urban development. It also considers the successes and failures of tribes to effectively engage in program reformation negotiation, community planning, and accountability measures to ensure their communities are served with enough culturally-appropriate, sustainable housing without mistrusting their own housing entities. Solutions for revising this service gap are proposed, adhering to a framework that centers diverse cultural values, community input, and functional design to increase each tribe’s implementation of self-determination in HUD housing programs.
Date Created
2020
Agent

Evaluation of Geodesign as a Planning Framework for American Indian Communities in the Southwest United States

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Description

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to evaluate Geodesign as a planning approach for American Indian communities in the American Southwest. There has been a call amongst indigenous planners for a planning approach that prioritizes indigenous and community values

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to evaluate Geodesign as a planning approach for American Indian communities in the American Southwest. There has been a call amongst indigenous planners for a planning approach that prioritizes indigenous and community values and traditions while incorporating Western planning techniques. Case studies from communities in the Navajo Nation and the Tohono O’odham Nation are used to evaluate Geodesign because they possess sovereign powers of self-government within their reservation boundaries and have historical and technical barriers that have limited land use planning efforts. This research aimed to increase the knowledge base of indigenous planning, participatory Geographic information systems (GIS), resiliency, and Geodesign in three ways. First, the research examines how Geodesign can incorporate indigenous values within a community-based land use plan. Results showed overwhelmingly that indigenous participants felt that the resulting plan reflected their traditions and values, that the community voice was heard, and that Geodesign would be a recommended planning approach for other indigenous communities. Second, the research examined the degree in which Geodesign could incorporate local knowledge in planning and build resiliency against natural hazards such as flooding. Participants identified local hazards, actively engaged in developing strategies to mitigate flood risk, and utilized spatial assessments to plan for a more flood resilient region. Finally, the research examined the role of the planner in conducting Geodesign planning efforts and how Geodesign can empower marginalized communities to engage in the planning process using Arnstein’s ladder as an evaluation tool. Results demonstrated that outside professional planners, scientists, and geospatial analysts needed to assume the role of a facilitator, decision making resource, and a capacity builder over traditional roles of being the plan maker. This research also showed that Geodesign came much closer to meeting American Indian community expectations for public participation in decision making than previous planning efforts. This research demonstrated that Geodesign planning approaches could be utilized by American Indian communities to assume control of the planning process according to local values, traditions, and culture while meeting rigorous Western planning standards.

Date Created
2020
Agent

Dine Cultural Sustainability through Settlement Form: Finding Patterns for New Navajo Neighborhoods

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Description
The dynamic nature of Navajo or Diné culture is continuing to be constrained by a mechanistic planning paradigm supporting delivery of colonial subdivisions across the land. Poor housing and subdivision conditions levy pressures on the Navajo People that reduce their

The dynamic nature of Navajo or Diné culture is continuing to be constrained by a mechanistic planning paradigm supporting delivery of colonial subdivisions across the land. Poor housing and subdivision conditions levy pressures on the Navajo People that reduce their ability to cope with environmental, financial and social pressures. This study has taken this complex social justice related health challenge to heart through a 2015-2016 school year of Arizona State University dissertation driven, community-based participatory action research with high school students from Navajo Preparatory School (NPS) in Farmington, New Mexico and community participants from the Shiprock Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Fieldwork focused on case study analysis of cluster settlements across the Navajo Northern Agency and existing subdivisions within the town of Shiprock to develop the Framework for a transformational Navajo model of the Pattern Language (Alexander et al, 1977) for new neighborhood design. Pattern data supporting the Framework was generated at the linked scales of the Navajo nuclear Family Camp, the extended family Cluster Camp, and the community-scaled Constellation Settlement “spatial model” that is proposed by this study as new neighborhood planning model.

An ethnographic research methodology was employed with students, faculty, Board leadership and neighboring Shiprock Chapter and Shiprock Planning Commission research participants. The study’s research methodology was anchored by a pioneering Indigenous Planning high school course that was housed within the School’s International Baccalaureate curriculum. Goals for student education in Indigenous Planning theory and much needed Diné planning-based language building were married with practical aims for use of the Diné Pattern Language and Constellation Settlement spatial model for anticipated Shiprock Chapter housing projects.
Date Created
2017
Agent