Sovereignty

Definition

Sovereignty refers to the authority of a state or governing body to govern itself and make its own laws without interference from external forces. In the context of Native American tribes, sovereignty is crucial for asserting their rights to self-governance, cultural preservation, and control over their lands and resources.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sovereignty for Native American tribes is recognized in U.S. law but often contested through legislation and court decisions.
2. Key treaties throughout history often included provisions that acknowledged tribal sovereignty, although these were frequently violated or undermined by federal policies.
3. The Navajo Long Walk exemplifies the violation of sovereignty as it forcibly removed the Navajo people from their lands against their will.
4. The Red Power movement sought to reclaim tribal sovereignty and promote self-determination among Native American communities during the 1960s and 1970s.
5. Organizations like AIM (American Indian Movement) played a vital role in advocating for the recognition of sovereignty and addressing issues related to rights and resources for Southwestern tribes.

Review Questions

• How did key treaties with Southwestern tribes reflect the concept of sovereignty and its challenges?
  • Key treaties with Southwestern tribes often included clauses that recognized their sovereignty and rights to self-governance. However, many of these treaties were subsequently violated by the federal government, undermining tribal authority and control over their lands. This tension highlights the ongoing struggle for Native American tribes to assert their sovereignty in the face of external pressures and changing legal interpretations.
• Discuss how the Navajo Long Walk affected tribal sovereignty and community identity.
  • The Navajo Long Walk was a devastating event that resulted in the forced relocation of the Navajo people from their ancestral lands, severely impacting their sovereignty. This trauma not only stripped them of their land but also disrupted their cultural practices and community identity. The return to Diné Bikéyah after the Long Walk represented a significant reclamation of sovereignty as the Navajo sought to rebuild their community and assert their rights over their territory once more.
• Evaluate the lasting impacts of Red Power activism on contemporary understandings of Native American sovereignty.
  • Red Power activism significantly reshaped contemporary understandings of Native American sovereignty by emphasizing the importance of self-determination and rights recognition. Activists raised awareness about issues facing indigenous communities and challenged governmental policies that undermined tribal authority. This movement laid the groundwork for modern legal battles over treaty rights, land claims, and political representation, ultimately leading to greater public acknowledgment of tribal sovereignty as an essential aspect of Native American identity and autonomy.

Related terms

Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States, which includes the power to create laws, manage resources, and regulate internal affairs.

Treaty Rights: Legal agreements between Native American tribes and the U.S. government that guarantee certain rights, privileges, or land to the tribes, often reflecting their sovereignty.

Self-Determination: The principle that communities or nations have the right to choose their own political status and determine their own form of economic, cultural, and social development.