Title: Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations | Native Heritage Project
Headings: Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations
Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations
About Roberta Estes

Content: Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations | Native Heritage Project
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Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations
Posted on March 19, 2012 by Roberta Estes
Did you know that Indian reservations are independent nations? Indian Nations are allowed, within limits to govern themselves. Many have their own police forces and courts. Tribal sovereignty in the United States refers to the inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States of America. The federal government recognizes tribal nations as “domestic dependent nations” and has established a number of laws attempting to clarify the relationship between the federal, state, and tribal governments. The Constitution and later federal laws grant local sovereignty to tribal nations, yet do not grant full sovereignty equivalent to foreign nations, hence the term “domestic dependent nations”. However, in times of war, all men, including Indians have to register. In WWI, this caused some consternation. Each registrar had to record the county name in which the registrant registered.