Greetings! We are quasi-sovereign Native nations of America!
When Americans think of Native nations and tribes, I wonder what comes to their minds?
Do they see us as nations like that of Spain and China? Do they see Native people as American citizens or foreign people? Does the word “sovereign” even come to their minds? For the most part I don’t think so.
I know that for Native people this term is used and understood so much that we can’t help ourselves from thinking of it when someone utters the word “Native.” But is the American mindset more realistic than ours? For the most part I think so.
For some time I have heard a term thrown out here and there in the academic world referring to Native nations as “quasi-sovereign.”
What??!!
I only laugh to think of the genius to have come up with that one.
And then, I start to think, and ponder, and think some more. Till eventually, like the American mindset, I come to agree with it. Native people have been fooled to think that for over 500 years we are still sovereign nations today.
Sovereignty can be defined, as by the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, as being…
1: supreme in rule or power
2: power to govern without external control
3: the supreme political power in a state.
Can anyone honestly tell me that the words Native and sovereignty belong in the same sentence?
Native people we have been using the wrong term for over 500 years! We need to correct ourselves and begin to realize like the rest of the America and see that we are “quasi-sovereign” nations. Or maybe we should still use the word sovereign and have other Nations of the world make us realize the illusion we have been living.
Greetings world! I belong to a quasi-sovereign Native nation of America!
No.
What we need to do is take action.
Native people need to take action. Native people need to take advantage of our ability to vote in the election of another country and to help determine the potential President, and American government leaders that Native nations and tribes will ultimately have a relationship with.
Our Native leaders need to take action and not be afraid to put pressure on the American government to fulfill its’ promises that they signed into law in those treaty agreements. We need to establish, because it never really was established to its’ full extent, a nation-to-nation relationship with America.
Native sovereignty is for the most part at the top of Native nations and tribes’ list in this current election. It is a top priority because it has been one of the longest unfulfilled promises of the American government. If I only had one question to ask it would be the same as the one in this video…
Barack Obama in New Mexico
What will you do to build and ensure Native sovereignty that still fulfills the promises of the treaties and agreements that were signed?
American government…the Native people have been waiting for your answer.
Tags: Rebecca Riley
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