Former Wyoming legislator revives long-lost guide to tribal government

Scotty Ratliff has been on a mission to clear up misunderstandings about the government on the Wind River Indian Reservation for over four decades. The first Native American to serve in the Wyoming Legislature (1980-1992) and a former college professor, Ratliff said tribal government was not even fully understood by most members of the tribe. “We are doing a good job of exposing kids to culture and languages,” Ratliff said. “But the topic of tribal government has been avoided.”

Ratliff’s latest project, a book titled “Tribal Government: Wind River Reservation,” has just been updated with current laws and, after years of waiting, is now available to the public. It explains the Shoshone and Arapaho tribal government in layman’s terms so the laws are more accessible to a wider audience. In the 1980s, Ratliff worked with a graduate student who agreed to research and write the first edition. “I was working at Central Wyoming College, and wondering why we have Political Science 101, which is U.S. and Wyoming government, but it did not include the government from the Wind River Reservation,” Ratliff said. “It says government of Wyoming, and that, to me, should have included our tribal government as well.”

The early edition was taught at CWC for a few years, but Ratliff was unable to convince the University of Wyoming to teach from it. The original edition has long gone out of print, becoming a rare book available online for over $100 — if you could even find a copy. For the past two decades, Ratliff has actively tried to get the book reprinted and updated. “This is really a story of a man who just would not quit,” former Wyoming Humanities Director Shannon Smith said. “Scotty came to me in 2014 and showed me the original book that he wanted to reprint.” It took another 12 years to get it done.

Arapaho Chairman Keenan Groesbeck said having Wyoming tribal government explained is vital. “It’s important because that’s who we are,” Groesbeck said. “This will help educate people within the state of Wyoming about sovereignty and our traditions.” Ratliff said the book will help people understand treaty rights and jurisdiction issues. “When you’re trying to solve problems, the best way to solve a problem is understand the problem,” he said.

The new edition explains the different elements that currently exist in tribal government, including councils and the court system. Andy Baldwin, author and former lawyer for the Northern Arapaho tribe, served as advisor and ensured the new edition was up to date. “He wrote the chapter on gaming, and it reads like a novel because he’s a novelist,” Smith said. Artist Jon Cox contributed the oil painting “Buffalo Spirits” for the front cover. WyoHistory.org has taken on the copyright to ensure future editions will continue to be published.

In 2017, the Wyoming Legislature passed House Bill 76, creating the state’s American Indian Education Program, requiring native history and culture to be woven into Wyoming’s social studies standards. The ongoing issue has been a lack of materials for teachers. The tribal government book is written at an eighth-grade level to be accessible to many ages. “The book itself is not a dry read,” Smith said. “It’s the history of the reservation, how two completely different tribes ended up on the same land and eventually had to come up with a joint government.”

Arapaho Business Council member Sami Dresser said it is vital for the material to be taught in all schools, especially on the reservation. “Our students need to learn our law-and-order code,” Dresser said. “It was something that was never taught in school.” Ratliff intends to give three copies to every school in Wyoming. “I think it’s a good attempt to bring forward to the state of Wyoming some education on tribal government,” he said. “By understanding each other, it’s a lot easier to work together.” A free lesson plan is available on WyoHistory.org for Chapter 2, “Two Nations, One Reservation,” with more lesson plans being created. The book is also intended to help current Wyoming legislators and others working with the tribes gain a better understanding of tribal sovereignty and governance. Ratliff, now retired, continues to advocate for education about the Wind River Reservation’s unique governmental structure. His persistence over four decades has finally resulted in an accessible, up-to-date resource that he hopes will bridge the gap between tribal and non-tribal communities in Wyoming. The updated edition includes new chapters on gaming, recent court decisions, and changes in tribal law that have occurred since the original publication. Smith, who served as editor, said the project was a labor of love for everyone involved. “Scotty’s dedication never wavered,” she said. “He would call every month asking for updates. He just would not let this project die.” The book is now available for purchase, and WyoHistory.org plans to keep it accessible online with free resources for educators. Ratliff hopes that future generations will grow up with a better understanding of the sovereign nations within Wyoming’s borders. “It’s not just about history,” he said. “It’s about today and tomorrow. We all live in this state together. We need to understand each other.” The updated guide to tribal government is being distributed to schools, libraries, and government offices across Wyoming. Ratliff’s dream of having tribal government taught alongside U.S. and Wyoming government in public schools is finally becoming a reality. “It took a long time,” Ratliff said. “But good things are worth waiting for.”