Self-government’s roots: Communities

The origins, and continuity, of American Indian rights to self-government are not well-understood, but are extremely important to contemporary American Indian communities. Most people in the general American public don’t understand the principles of self-government, and often in casual talk one hears that the U.S. government ”granted” Indians land and special rights. Even in Indian country, few tribal nation members are well-informed about the historical, legal and cultural foundation of self-government.