American planning seeks, as its most ambitious undertaking, to improve the social and economic conditions of each member of the national community. The practical implications from the presumption of a homogeneous public interest, however, have rendered that undertaking largely impossible. In recent decades, recognition of the American society’s inherent plurality has led to consideration of the particular needs of distinct social groups previously underrepresented in American planning practice. This paper seeks to broaden our understanding of a particularly underrepresented segment of the American community-the Native American tribal community – and to promote planning’s effectiveness in improving the community’s conditions.
