FLAGS OF
NATIVE AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS
by Don Healy
During my continuing research into the subject of Native American Tribal Flags, I have uncovered a subset of flags that, to my knowledge has never been reported on in the vexillological media. That group of flags is one belonging to Native American tribal nations.
Tribal associations act as a central voice for a regional group of tribes, usually including the smaller tribes who might be overlooked or ignored by state and federal governments if they had not banded together. They sometimes coordinate programs for the member tribes in an effort to gain economies of scale and eliminate redundant levels of tribal bureaucracy.
A good example of this is the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada. This association of very small tribes-Nevada has nothing but small tribe handles such programs as Child Care Development Block Grants, the Women, Infants and Children Program, Headstart, and many others. These programs, usually federally funded, require significant amounts of paperwork and management that would be beyond the capabilities of the tribes due to size.
To give you an idea as to the size of Nevada's tribes, the largest tribe in all of Nevada is the Pyramid Lake Paiute, with a 1990 census population of 959 Indians and the smallest is the Summit Lake Paiute with a population of 6! Banded together, however, these tribes, speaking with a united voice, number into the thousands.
At least half a dozen such associations exist around the United States and more in Canada. United States associations include:
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians;
The Chattanooga Inter-tribal Association;
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada;
The Michigan Intertribal Association;
The United Sioux Tribes; and
The United South and Eastern Tribes.
These associations all have flags. Four use their seals on white backgrounds, but two have slightly different designs.
The Affiliated
Tribes of the Northwest use a white flag but there is a red border around the
flag, set slightly in from the edge. In the center is the association seal. Within
two narrow red circles appear the maps of the four states from which the
association draws its members-Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Crossing
the map is a peace pipe. Both map outlines and peace pipe are shown in black.
Beyond the red circles is the Association's name in black letters. Two red dots
separate the name.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada uses an orange flag
bearing the
Council's logo. This logo begins with a blue map of Nevada edged in light blue.
In the center of the map is a yellow disc bearing the Council's initials in
blue. Behind the map is a pair of crossed tomahawks shown in natural coloring.
From these tomahawks hang a pair of eagle feathers, a recurring element in
Native American flags. The design is completed by the inclusion of the Council's
name above and below the map in blue lettering.
Although not tribal flags, the banners of Native American tribal associations tend to follow very similar design concepts that are employed by the various tribes. They recall the culture and histories of the peoples they represent. As such they become an interesting glimpse into the people themselves.