The story, known as "The Theft of Fire," illustrates numerous meanings and teachings crucial to understanding Anishinaabe nationhood. This story contains two discernible points. First, it reveals how the Anishinaabe obtained fire. The second discernible feature within this story is the marking of the hare by his theft of fire. Stories…

Twenty-five years ago a "perfect storm" of economic, environmental, and social conditions swirled in northern Wisconsin and battered attempts by the Ojibwe to exercise their treaty-based fishing rights. This article examines the socioeconomic, political, and cultural factors that contributed to the spearfishing crisis twenty-five years…

American Indian treaties and treaty law may seem to fall solely within the purview of legal methodology and critical analysis, yet the 367 American Indian treaties signed with the US federal government beg for the type of dissection and analysis generally associated with cultural and literary critical theory. The tools by which texts are dissected…

Explores the founding document of present-day New Zealand, the "Treaty of Waitangi," in terms of the Maori chiefs' signatures and their significance in European and tribal custom. Notes that most of the signatures on the original treaty were approximately 5mm high and were subsumed by the attempted European spellings of the names of the…

The article analyzes the proposed Maine Settlement. It also looks at a viable alternative to the settlement based on the premise that Indian tribes can survive only as nations, not as state municipalities or United States landowners. (Author/SB)

Although the United States Constitution and courts affirm the independent sovereign status of the Indian Nations, Federal and State governments have violated Indian rights. The relationship must be reconstructed with consent and cooperation so that Indian rights to self-government and self-determination are protected by international law. (VM)

Overview of some of the most important Indian court cases of the last decade, including ones regarding treaty rights, tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty, tax jurisdiction, land claims, and hunting and fishing rights. (DS)

Examines development of federal-Indian trust relationship and separate "government-government" relationship between U.S. government and federally recognized tribes. Analyzes inconsistencies produced by government's administration of two relationships. Sees trust relationship (guardianship doctrine) as one aspect of government-government…

First tracing the historical background of Canadian-Indian policy, article then presents an in-depth analysis of the Indian Act, the mainstay of that policy. Apparently little has changed over the years: the Indian Act continues to thwart Indian sovereignty and self-determination. (Author/DS)

The essay discusses Indian rights in the light of national and international law and describes the struggle for Indian rights as part of an international struggle for human rights and social justice. (SB)

Explains history of federal-Indian relationship and changing tribal sovereignty rights. Describes treaty disputes and Indian-non-Indian conflicts in Washington, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. Describes general nature of Indian alliances and support networks. Discusses possible roles for social scientists and social-science studies to mitigate Indian…

Legal, philosophical, legislative, historical, and international aspects of the issue of Indian tribal sovereignty and treaty rights are presented in six articles based on transcripted proceedings of a forum held at San Diego State University April 12-14, 1978. In the introduction, Sam Deloria examines various definitions of tribal sovereignty. In…

Law firm analysis which reviews developments in Indian law, discusses holdings and implications of some important Supreme Court decisions (Boldt Case, Yakima Public Law 280 Case, Blackbird Bend Case), analyzes litigation trends which appear to be developing, and comments on the future conduct of Indian litigation. (DS)

The cornerstones of the Indian perspective on their relationship to American government and society lie in the fact that the Indians are the aboriginal owners of the New World and that their formal association with the U.S. is based on formal treaties. Indian tribes consider themselves as separate and sovereign nations. In early American history,…

Federal awareness that Indians existed as self-governing, political entities gave rise to congressional action during the 1970s that produced significant Indian rights legislation. Article discusses the Congressional Indian legislation enacted during the past decade. (DS)