Planning the American Indian Reservation - by Nicholas Christos Zaferatos (Paperback)

About the Book

A holistic and practical approach to explaining the practice of Native American planning, using case studies to show how effective planning can allow tribes to reclaim their communities future.

Book Synopsis

American Indian reservation planning is one of the most challenging and poorly understood specializations within the American planning profession. Charged with developing a strategy to protect irreplaceable tribal homelands that have been repeatedly diminished over the ages through unjust public policy actions, it is also one of the most imperative. For centuries tribes have faced historical bigotry, political violence, and an unrelenting resistance to self-governance. Aided by a comprehensive reservation planning strategy, tribes can create the community they envisioned for themselves, independent of outside forces. In Planning the American Indian Reservation, Zaferatos presents a holistic and practical approach to explaining the practice of Native American planning.

The book unveils the complex conditions that tribes face by examining the historic, political, legal, and theoretical dimensions of the tribal planning situation in order to elucidate the context within which reservation planning occurs. Drawing on more than thirty years of professional practice, Zaferatos presents several case studies demonstrating how effective tribal planning can alter the nature of the political landscape and help to rebalance the uneven relationships that have been formed between tribal governments and their nontribal political counterparts. Tribal planning's overarching objective is to assist tribes as they transition from passive objects of historical circumstances to principal actors in shaping their future reservation communities.

Review Quotes

Zaferatos understands that the successful planner in Indian Country works to empower tribes by expanding their capacities to stand as governing equals with their state, local, and federal counterparts. Perhaps even more importantly, his book sets out in detail the constraints and opportunities that confront the exercise of tribal governmental powers, and then goes about illustrating--with real world cases--exactly how constraints can be overcome and opportunities can be seized. The lessons Zaferatos draws will help both tribes and their neighbors to build better communities for their citizens.-- "Joseph P. Kalt, professor emeritus and codirector, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University"

Planning the American Indian Reservation is an invaluable resource not only for budding tribal planners, but for any scholar or agency staff interacting with tribes, or interested in community-based models of governance and cooperation.-- "Geographical Review"

[Zaferatos's] insights about the practice of tribal planning present a new way of thinking about--and effectively overcoming--the many challenges that we tribal nations will inevitably continue to face in our pursuit of economic independence and self-determination.-- "Brian Cladoosby, president, National Congress of American Indians"

The author presents 'comanagement' as a way of meeting both tribal and nontribal concerns, something that in other contexts might be called inclusionary planning.-- "Planning"

The book is divided into four parts. Each part provides rich information related to thinking and planning in Native communities. . . . A good read for students and faculty in planning, politicians, and other stakeholders.-- "Journal of American Indian Higher Education"

Zaferatos discusses the complex conditions under which tribal governments operate but also provides readers with tangible ways in which tribes can better develop economically by delving into the obstacles and the opportunities that tribal governments face today. In doing so, he also advances the idea that strategic planning and development can foster even greater political gains than activism alone. This is a must read for both students and practitioners. Essential.-- "Choice"

About the Author

Nicholas Christos Zaferatos is professor of urban planning and sustainable development at Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University. His professional practice in urban planning spans over thirty-five years and includes planning and executive managerial positions and civic appointments on planning boards and commissions with local, regional, and Native American governments.