ABSTRACT
The self-determination era that began in the 1960s and 1970s restored federal acknowledgment of Native sovereignty and the nation-to-nation relationship between the federal government and Native nations. One of the most significant shifts in the self-determination era was the introduction of tribal gaming, which increased tribal-state economic interactions and increased state expectations of jurisdiction over Native lands. This chapter explores this modern context of intergovernmental relations in greater depth. States have been involved with Native nations, despite the formal nation-to-nation relationship. The modern development of the tribal-state relationship has many possibilities for cooperation and mutual gain, but it has also created a great deal of conflict and confusion. The chapter offers discussions of contemporary challenges and paths to resolving conflict over interactions and jurisdiction and looks at specific examples of tribal-state intergovernmental interactions in civil regulatory issues. It explores the issue of state fuel excise taxes, which leads to the in-depth consideration of the development of state tobacco excise taxes.
