Tribal Sovereignty

Definition

Tribal sovereignty refers to the right of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States.

Analogy

Think of tribal sovereignty as a school's student council. The school is like the U.S., and each classroom is like an individual state. The student council has its own rules and can make decisions, but it still exists within the larger structure of the school.

Related terms

Treaty Rights: These are rights reserved by tribes when they signed treaties with federal government, often including rights related to hunting, fishing and gathering on ancestral lands.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): A government agency that manages relations between Native American Tribes and the federal government.

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act: This 1988 law regulates gaming activities on Indian lands for purpose of promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.