Governor's American Indian Nations
Guiding Principles
In formulating or implementing policies, agreements, cooperative grants, activities of any nature, or administrative rules that have direct Tribal implications, the following principles should be considered.
- Establish and preserve harmonious Tribal/State relationships.
- Strive for mutual understanding and respect for the sovereign Tribal and State governments.
- Share collective resources and services to achieve equal opportunity for all.
- Work cooperatively when the rights of one government to the other are unclear or would result in harm to either government's citizens.
- Use the process established through the GAIN Council to address issues timely and through the appropriate process.
Core Values
Integrity - Complete honesty conforming to the highest level of professional conduct. Our words match our deeds and we are completely unified.
Trustworthy - Conduct ourselves in a manner such that if the person we are speaking about is standing behind us without our knowledge; we are not embarrassed when we discover the person has heard everything we said.
Commitment - Ability and willingness to align behavior with the needs and goals of the organization and be a role model. Act in a way that will serve the public interest, honor the public trust, and demonstrate commitment to professionalism.
Self-Discipline - Translate good ideas, good thoughts, and good intentions into action. It is not enough to do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.
Respect for Others - Listen to, understand, and consider the merits of other's views. Acknowledge and respect the Tribal Nation's sovereignty and autonomy.
Ethics
The Governor's American Indian Nation Council expects ethical conduct at all times. We will evaluate our action and policies according to the four ethical norms.
- Utility: Does it optimize the satisfaction of all constituents?
- Rights: Does it respect the rights and duties of the individuals involved?
- Justice: Is it consistent with the cannons of justice?
- Caring: Is it consistent with my responsibility to care?
Always consider if the action being considered is balanced. Is the decision fair? Is it "win-win" rather than "win-lose" which could turn into "lose-lose"? Who are the stakeholders in the outcomes?
What are the consequences of each viable alternative to the decisions? Short run gains or losses must be compared to longer-run considerations. The consequences may be very different depending upon whether a tactical (short-term) or strategic (long-term) orientation or span of time is considered.
Protocol
Sensitivity and attention to protocol is expected in all interactions. This is a strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence. At least once a year, the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs and a trainer selected by the Tribal Nations shall provide training in Helena or a site mutually agreed upon to state agency managers and key employees who have regular communication with tribes on the legal status of tribes, the legal rights of tribal members, and social, economic, and cultural issues of concern to tribes.
