The essays included in this collection help define Native American sovereignty in today's world. They draw upon past legal experiences and project into the future. The collection begins with a brief definition of sovereignty, followed by a consideration of the most important documents that show the relationships between Native American nations and the U.S. government. They continue with a study of how treaties were handled by Congress and the current and future implication of the treaty relationships. The selection concludes with a look at the issue of federal plenary power in terms of treaties and the evolution of American case law.
Introduction; Indian Sovereignty; Treaty Legislation; Implications of Treaty Relationships Between the United States and Various American Indian Nations; The U.S. Supreme Court’s Explication of "Federal Plenary Power:" An Analysis of Case Law Affecting Tribal Sovereignty, 1886–1914; Self-Determination and the Concept of Sovereignty; The Origins of Self-Determination Ideology and Constitutional Sovereignty; The Challenge of Indigenous Self-Determination; Indian Tribal Taxation: A Cornerstone of Sovereignty; Federal Indian Identification Policy: A Usurpation of Indigenous Sovereignty in North America; Crazy Snake and the Creek Struggle for Sovereignty: The Native American Legal Culture and American Law; Peterson Zah: A Progressive Outlook and a Traditional Style; The Quest for Sovereignty; Self-Determination and Subordination: The Past, Present, and Future of American Indian Governance; International Law and Politics: Toward a Right to Self-Determination for Indigenous Peoples, The Future of Indian Nations
Biography
John R Wunder (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
