American Indian Culture and Research Journal

INTRODUCTION Recently Wilcomb Washburn (1984) asserted that Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) governments were freely chosen by many tribes and bands and are suited to Indian notions of governance. Two IRA governments of Native American groups are analyzed here: the Upper Skagit Tribe of western Washington State and the St. Lawrence Island Eskimos of Gambell, Alaska. The relationships these groups have with federal, state and county governments and the complexities of the functions of their governments challenge Washburn's simplistic and misleading interpretations of IRA governments and demonstrate the dominant influence exercised over tribal affairs by federal policies.