TRIBAL AUTHORITY

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Harvest  Christian University is established as an Indigenous-led educational  institution grounded in the inherent sovereign rights of Native nations  to govern, educate, and perpetuate their cultural, spiritual, and  academic traditions. Our foundation is rooted in both the sacred right  to self-determination and the federal legal framework that affirms the  authority of tribes and tribal entities to create and operate  institutions of higher learning, whether on or off federally recognized  Indian lands.

Harvest Christian University asserts its legitimacy under the following legal doctrines and authorities:

• Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832) 
• United States v. Wheeler, 435 U.S. 313 (1978) 
• Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), 25 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq. 

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, 25 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq.
• Executive Order 13592 

• American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1996 
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 14 (endorsed by the U.S. in 2010) 

• 25 CFR Part 900 – Indian Self-Determination Contracts (BIA Regulations) 
• 25 CFR § 41.3 – Definitions for Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. 

• Montoya v. United States, 180 U.S. 261 
• The right of Native peoples to educate their communities,
• The authority of tribal nations and their affiliates to found institutions of higher learning,
• And the freedom to do so beyond the geographic boundaries of federal trust land.

Under  the combined authority of federal Indian law, tribal sovereignty, and  international Indigenous rights instruments, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe,  as a federally recognized sovereign Tribal Nation, and its chartered  institution, Harvest Christian University, operate with full  jurisdictional, educational, and cultural authority. These protections  guarantee the Tribe’s inherent right to govern, educate, and sustain its  people and institutions. Harvest Christian University is thereby  recognized as a tribally authorized institution, protected under federal  law, tribal governance, and international Indigenous rights frameworks.
 Harvest Christian University is a tribally chartered institution  affiliated with the federally recognized Pamunkey Indian Tribe,  operating under its sovereign authority and protection. The University  is eligible for federal protections and benefits extended to tribal  colleges, including funding through the Tribally Controlled Colleges and  Universities Assistance Act and access to programs via the Bureau of  Indian Education. 

Harvest Christian University holds formal recognition and  protections as a tribally authorized institution affiliated with the  federally recognized Pamunkey Indian Tribe, benefiting from both tribal  sovereignty and federal Indian education law, along with international  Indigenous rights recognition frameworks. 

Harvest Christian University, in association with the  Pamunkey Indian Tribe, operates under the federal recognition and legal  framework established by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) within the  U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe received federal recognition  from the BIA on July 2, 2015, establishing a government-to-government  relationship with the United States and making the Tribe eligible for  key federal benefits, including support for education. 

The legal codes and protections set  forth in:

• Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):  This is the principal body of regulations governing Indian Affairs,  including education, tribal governance, and funding allocations,  administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Policies and Programs:  The BIA implements federal statutes and manages programs that support  tribal sovereignty, self-determination, education, and economic  development for recognized tribes such as the Pamunkey
• Federal Recognition Process: The  Pamunkey Indian Tribe completed the federal acknowledgment process as  outlined by the BIA’s Office of Federal Acknowledgment. This process  requires tribes to demonstrate historical continuity, governance, and  community distinctiveness in accordance with 25 CFR Part 83
• Federal Responsibility for Tribal Education:  As a federally recognized tribe, the Pamunkey—and by extension  university initiatives serving its members—are protected and supported  by federal policy under the Indian Self-Determination and Education  Assistance Act, and benefit from funding and regulatory oversight from  the BIA, aiming to advance tribal education while respecting tribal  sovereignty

Official Proclamation

Pamunkey Indian Nation

Federally Recognized Transit Authority Established

Codified Under Tribal Law – Effective 2015

Pursuant to the inherent sovereignty of the Pamunkey Indian Nation and in accordance with its federally recognized status, we formally announce the establishment of the Pamunkey Nation Transit and Travel Authority (PNTTA). This authority is duly constituted and empowered under the Nation’s Tribal Code Title VII: Infrastructure and Mobility, enacted under the 2015 Self-Governance Site Laws.

• Title I – Tribal Sovereignty and Jurisdiction
  • Section 1.01: Recognition of Pamunkey Nation as a sovereign governmental entity.
  • Section 1.04: Authority to establish internal governance structures, agencies, and service systems.
• Title IV – Self-Determination and Development
  • Section 4.03: Authorization to enter into intergovernmental agreements with educational institutions, such as Harvest Christian University, for cooperative infrastructure and educational initiatives.
  • Section 4.09: Promotion of intertribal and intratribal mobility and economic empowerment through sovereign transportation networks.
• Title VII – Transit, Mobility, and Infrastructure Code (Enacted 2015)
  • Section 7.01: Establishment of the Pamunkey Nation Transit and Travel Authority.
  • Section 7.05: Authority to operate, regulate, and maintain tribal transportation systems, including roads, shuttles, and transit services.
  • Section 7.08: Right to promote free movement and unrestricted travel for tribal citizens and authorized affiliates.
  • Section 7.12: Integration with broader regional and federal transportation systems in accordance with 25 U.S. Code § 5304 (Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act).
• Title IX – Cultural and Educational Partnership Agreements
  • Section 9.02: Formalized partnerships with accredited institutions of higher learning for mutual development, cultural exchange, and student access.
  • Section 9.04: Recognition of transportation as a right for educational access.
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This authority is empowered not only by the Pamunkey Tribal Council but also recognized under applicable provisions of federal Indian law, including:

• Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638)
• Tribal Transportation Program (23 U.S. Code § 202)
• Executive Order 13175 – Consultation and Coordination with Tribal Governments

To advance the Pamunkey Nation’s sovereign right to mobility, access, and interconnection through a tribally governed transportation system that honors our past, strengthens our present, and secures our future.

Bishop In Trust

Federal legal codes and regulations relevant to the  status and operations of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and institutions  serving its members include:

• Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): This section contains the principal regulations relating to Indian  affairs, governance, education, and tribal sovereignty, under the  oversight of the Department of the Interior (DOI)
• Department of the Interior Statutes:  The DOI, under 43 U.S. Code Chapter 31, is responsible for implementing  statutes and policies that protect and manage affairs relating to  federally recognized Indian tribes, including education and cultural  institutions like tribal universities and colleges
• Tribal Sovereignty: The United States  Constitution and federal courts recognize Indian tribes, such as the  Pamunkey, as sovereign governmental entities with inherent authority  over their members and affairs. The Department of the Interior has a  trust responsibility to support tribal self-government and  self-determination, and federal law guarantees the tribe’s right to  manage its internal affairs, including education initiatives and  partnerships
• Federal Recognition and Education:  Under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act, the Department of  the Interior confirms tribes’ federal status, affording them specific  protections, opportunities, and funding for education, health, and  cultural programs. This framework supports educational initiatives like  Harvest Christian University as part of the tribe’s rights and  authorities