What do traditional Indigenous institutions of governance offer to our understanding of the contemporary challenges faced by the Navajo Nation today and tomorrow? Guided by the Mountains looks at the tensions between Indigenous political philosophy and the challenges faced by Indigenous nations in building political institutions that address contemporary problems and enact "good governance." Specifically, it looks at Navajo, or Dine, political thought, focusing on traditional Dine institutions that offer "a new (old) understanding of contemporary governance challenges" facing the Navajo Nation. Arguing not only for the existence but also the persistence of traditional Navajo political thought and policy, Guided by the Mountains asserts that "traditional" Indigenous philosophy provides a model for creating effective governance institutions that address current issues faced by Indigenous nations. Incorporating both visual interpretations and narrative accounts of traditional and contemporary Dine institutions of government from Dine philosophers, the book is the first to represent Indigenous philosophy as the foundation behind traditional and contemporary governance. It also explains how Dine governance institutions operated during Pre-Contact and Post-Contact times. This path-breaking book stands as the first-time normative account of Dine philosophy.

About the Author
Michael Lerma is the Dean of Business and Social Science at Dine College. He is formerly the Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs, and Applied Indigenous Studies at Northern Arizona University. Avery Denny is Professor of Dine Studies at Dine College. Robert Yazzie is Associate Professor of Law Advocate, School of Dine and Law Studies, Navajo Technical University.

Reviews
I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to read and review this wonderful bookThe book is beautifully typeset with many photographs and prints...What sets Carroll's recreational mathematics apart from his more erudite contributions is not that they are childish but that they are "aimed at the non-mathematician, thereby making them accessible to all * Sara L. Uckelman, Department of Philosophy, Durham University, The British Society for Literature and Science *
this book is engaging, provocative, and helpful for understanding how Indigenous peoples view the world, government, leadership, and life in general. This book is a valuable contribution to Indigenous knowledge and the world. * Lloyd L. Lee, Wicazo SA Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9780190639853
Author Michael Lerma
Format Hardback
Page Count 248
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 155mm * 25mm