“Tribal sovereignty — the inherent authority of tribes to govern themselves — allows tribes to honor and preserve their cultures and traditional ways of life.”
More than 42 percent of the officially recognized tribes in the United States are without a designated reservation. In the same way that African Americans gained civil rights one small step at a time, Native nations have worked to regain sovereignty piece by piece, through hard won lawsuits, negotiations and initiatives.
“The world doesn’t know that we’re equal but we’re getting better at telling them.” Tla-o-qui-aht Director of Lands and Resources Saya Masso from the cover story of the National Geographic Magazine.
Why should we care about tribal sovereignty? Native Americans have successfully managed and lived on the land for generations. Their knowledge of local ecosystems has been carefully handed down and now points the way to a sustainable future. All over the world, indigenous populations are working to restore the balance of nature. Sovereignty also means the power to reclaim traditions that protect nature and our planet for future generations.
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