Sovereignty (or Self-Determination)
Individual or Tribal;  Cultural and Religious or Political?

Sovereignty itself is, of course, not subject to law, for it is the author and source of law; but in our system, while sovereign powers are delegated to the agencies of government, sovereignty itself remains with the people, by whom and for whom all government exists and acts.
Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356 (1886)

But these Indians are within the geographical limits of the United States . The soil and the people within these limits are under the political control of the government of the United States , or of the states of the Union . There exists within the broad domain of sovereignty but these two. There may be cities, counties, and other organized bodies, with limited legislative functions, but they are all derived from, or exist in, subordination to one or the other of these.
U S v. KAGAMA, 118 U.S. 375 (1886)

"With the debate centering on which governments are sovereign, almost no attention has been given to the derivation of tribal authority and the basis of its sovereignty vis-à-vis individual tribal members. . . . Nearly all the Plains Indians lived in relatively independent groups (usually families or clans) where individual freedom was paramount. . . . Before Indian tribes, especially those with a tradition of individualism, can establish their sovereignty, they must establish the nature of the relationship between individual Indians and tribal government. . . . To develop collective sovereignty, Indians will have to return to the basics of individual sovereignty and build from the ground up. . . . Self-determination begins with the individual, as it did prior to European contact, and builds to collective action"
Anderson, Terry L. Sovereign Nations or Reservations, (San Francisco: Pacific Research Institute, 1995) p. 169-171.
Reprinted with permission of the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy.

Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

sovereign, n. 1.  A person, body, or state  vested with independent and supreme authority; 2. The ruler of an independent state.  - Also spelled sovran. See Sovereignty.

sovereignty. 1. Supreme dominion, authority, or rule. 2. The supreme political authority of an independent state. 3. The state itself.

More Definitions

The Tragedy of Tribal Sovereignty by Darrel Smith

Why Indians are Second Class Citizens by Darrel Smith

Starter Kit on Tribal Sovereignty  from CERA (MS Word format)

How Sovereignty Protects American Freedoms   Copyright  (1999) by T. David Price, Author of The Second Civil War, All rights Reserved

President Nixon expands tribal sovereignty through self-determination policy - Nixon papers

Sovereignty and Civil Rights by Julie Shortridge Feb. 1997

Concept of Sovereignty Missing in Native Language by Scott Kayla Morrison

S. 1691 Testimony by William J. Lawrence

Sovereignty Testimony by Scott Kayla Morrison

One People. One Law. by Lana Marcussen

A Legacy from the Thirties by Darrel Smith 

Indians Want Democracy on Reservation by Julie Shortridge

Accountability and Its Effect on Indian Law by Lana Marcussen

American Indian, Citizens or Slaves? by Lana Marcussen Feb. 1997

Indian Sovereignty - The New Fiction by Dale Menten

Tribal Sovereign Immunity - A Haven for Criminal Behavior by Elaine Willman

A Small Example of Tribal Sovereignty  from Stand UP! - Elaine Willman

Section Exposing Tribal Sovereignty Initiative by CERA

Reply to Wall Street Journal Article by Elaine Willman

Judge R.A. (Jim) Randall: MN Court of Appeals Opinions
Sylvia COHEN, Appellant, v. LITTLE SIX, INC.
Granite Valley Hotel Limited Partnership, v. Jackpot Junction Bingo and Casino

Tribal Sovereignty Impacts Non-member's Private Property Bugenig v. Hoopa Valley Tribe

Whose Sovereignty? by Darrel Smith 

A Tribal Member Looks at Sovereignty by Eddie Gray Owl (Blackfeet)

Sovereignty in the News
Flexing the Sovereignty Muscle Raises Opposition from the Spokesman-Review
Sovereignty Gone Too Far? from the Sacramento Bee
Tribal Sovereign Immunity - a tool to dodge accountability from the Detroit Free Press