Shaping Tribal Self-Governance with Lloyd Miller

Welcome to another episode of Impact Unfiltered, where host Stewart sits down at the Self-Governance Conference with Lloyd Miller — an Indian law attorney and lobbyist who has practiced since 1979. With three U.S. Supreme Court victories and his fingerprints on nearly every major piece of tribal self-governance legislation, Miller offers a living history of how sovereignty moved from vision to reality.He walks through the 1988 Indian Self-Determination Act amendments, the pivotal 1994 reforms, and today’s expansion into HHS. Along the way, he shares what 45 years of this work has taught him about persistence, the long view, and why tribally-run services consistently outperform federal delivery. With reflections on the Maine tribes case that inspired his career, the moral weight of the federal trust responsibility, and Martin Luther King’s “bending the arc,” this episode is a master class in the patient work of changing systems.1. Background and Role Indian law attorney and lobbyist since 1979, Miller joined his firm after a federal clerkship and never left — all the firm does is tribal work. He has three Supreme Court victories and was a lobbyist for the 1988 amendments that launched self-governance.2. The Acme of Self-Governance Self-governance conferences once drew small gatherings; today they are major events. Miller calls this moment “the acme of tribal self-governance.”3. A Brief History: 1988 and 1994 The 1988 enactment began as an experiment at Interior, later expanded to IHS. In 1994, amendments shifted power, allowing tribes to sue when agencies failed to comply. Expansion followed rapidly, improving healthcare, social services, and child welfare.4. Why Tribes Outperform IHSIHS historically failed to bill Medicare or Medicaid effectively. Tribes invested in billing infrastructure, growing collections dramatically. Some now generate twice as much from third-party sources as from federal appropriations.5. The Dignity of Billing and Coding Tribal billers and coders know their work protects entire hospitals. Engagement is high because the work directly serves their communities.6. Breaking Silos Self-governance principles have expanded beyond healthcare. A Trump-era employment law modeled on self-governance brought a dozen agencies into the fold. Discussions continue about pulling more HHS departments into the model, despite bureaucratic resistance.7. The Madness of Grant Buckets Tribes once had to report on dozens of separate grants, creating duplication and inefficiency. Self-governance allows holistic reporting, freeing tribes from redundant oversight.8. Why Lloyd Does This WorkInspired by Tom Tureen and the Maine tribes case, Miller saw law as a way to vindicate historic injustice.“Being able to vindicate that kind of historic injustice was God’s work, in law.”9. Two Pieces of Advice Have the long view — Supreme Court victories can take decades. Never give up — if courts fail, go to Congress; if Congress stalls, return to the courts.10. The Vision of Sovereignty Tribal governance now stands on equal footing with states and the federal government. It will never be perfect, but the arc is bending. Miller cites Martin Luther King’s vision of justice.11. Identity and Trust ResponsibilityFor Indian people, cultural and spiritual identity is paramount. Federal services are prepaid obligations under broken treaties.“Every treaty was broken. Every treaty made promises. The United States has this land, all of it indigenous. They owe the tribes — it’s prepaid healthcare, prepaid social services.”12. Closing Remarks and GratitudeThe episode closes with recognition of Lloyd Miller’s 45 years of work, appreciation for the history he shares with younger advocates, and encouragement to maintain the long view and never give up.