How do nonprofit organizations come to be seen as tribal authorities when they are not?

This episode explains the common ways nonprofits imitate the appearance of tribal government. We break down how boards, titles, cultural programming, and public messaging can be used to imply sovereignty without citizens, elections, or continuity. The episode also explains why this confusion is harmful, and how it redirects authority, resources, and decision-making away from real tribal governments.

Understanding these patterns helps listeners spot red flags and support Indigenous sovereignty responsibly.

New episodes drop every Monday.

What happens when identity claims are not backed by a functioning government?

This episode explains why Indigenous identity alone does not create tribal authority. We break down how real tribal nations are defined by governance, citizenship, and continuity, and why groups built on personal identity claims or cultural affiliation collapse under scrutiny when they lack elections, enrollment, or political structure.

Understanding this distinction helps listeners recognize why legitimate tribal authority cannot rest on self-identification or symbolism, and why government structure is essential to sovereignty.

New episodes drop every Monday.

How can you tell the difference between a sovereign tribal government and a nonprofit corporation?

This episode breaks down the structural differences between governments and corporations. We explain how tribal nations exercise political authority through citizens, elections, laws, and continuity, and how nonprofits operate as corporations with boards, bylaws, and tax status instead. The episode clarifies why adopting cultural language, community programs, or Indigenous imagery does not create governmental authority.

Understanding this distinction gives listeners practical tools to evaluate claims of sovereignty and avoid confusing corporate structures with real tribal governments.

New episodes drop every Monday.

Why do tribal elections matter, and what do they tell us about real governance?

This episode explains why elections are a core function of sovereign tribal governments. We break down how elections establish leadership legitimacy, accountability to citizens, and continuity of authority over time. The episode also clarifies why nonprofits and informal groups often avoid elections entirely, and why the absence of elections is a key warning sign when evaluating claims of tribal leadership.

Understanding tribal elections helps listeners recognize real governments and avoid confusing corporations or self-appointed leaders with sovereign nations.

New episodes drop every Monday.

How do tribes maintain continuity across generations, despite colonization, displacement, and erasure?

This episode explains what continuity means in a tribal governance context and why it is a defining feature of real tribal nations. We break down how tribes document leadership, citizenship, and community existence over time, and why continuity is demonstrated through records, governance, and collective political life, not symbolism or personal claims.

Understanding continuity helps clarify why long-standing tribal governments carry authority, and why newly formed groups without documentation or structure cannot substitute for them.

New episodes drop every Monday.

What does federal recognition actually mean, and what does it not mean?

This episode explains what federal recognition is in legal and political terms, how it is granted, and why it does not create a tribe or its people. We clarify the difference between recognition and sovereignty, explain the government-to-government relationship it establishes, and outline why unrecognized tribes can still be real governments while nonprofits can never be recognized as tribes.

By understanding federal recognition correctly, listeners can avoid common misconceptions and better evaluate claims of tribal authority made by organizations, institutions, and public figures.

New episodes drop every Monday.

Why does enrollment matter, and why isn’t self-identification enough?

This episode explains why tribal enrollment is a core function of sovereign tribal governments. We break down how enrollment establishes citizenship, continuity, and political accountability, and why real tribes maintain formal rolls that connect living members to their ancestors. The episode also clarifies how nonprofits and informal groups often avoid enrollment entirely, and why that absence is a critical red flag when evaluating claims of tribal authority.

Understanding enrollment helps allies, institutions, and funders recognize legitimate tribal governments and avoid supporting structures that lack accountability or continuity.

New episodes drop every Monday.

What actually makes a tribe a government, and why does that distinction matter?

This first episode lays the foundation for the entire series. It explains what defines a sovereign Tribal Nation and why tribes are governments, not cultural groups or nonprofits. We break down core elements like citizenship, governance, continuity, and political authority, and explain how these differ from nonprofit organizations, even when nonprofits use Indigenous language or imagery.

Understanding this distinction is essential for recognizing legitimate tribal authority, avoiding misinformation, and supporting Indigenous sovereignty responsibly.

New episodes drop every Monday.