The opinion appears to be on the right track; sovereignty is for tribal members only! it vary seldom works on outside governments! it only works primarily aginst indians of the tribe that declears sovereignty and also other indians... don't believe me? check if any individual indian or group has ever been able to win a lawsuit over a tribal council in tribal court or other federal courts. tribal councils are above the law! or at least what i have seen gives me that impression this issue (sovereignty is a word not a law the understandings change when race views get involved. opinion.

Although I disagree with the author's indictment of AIM as being responsible for numerous "handouts," it is true today that the distinction between handouts and obligations is becoming blurred. I do agree that tribal councils and leaders are to blame for many confrontations which do harm to all Indian people. In fact, many of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's findings are because of the backwardness and corruption that top leaders continue to inflict upon their own people under the guise of sovereignty. These leaders are the first ones to throw up sovereignty when they are accused of misuse of office or power. More often now you hear of Indians wronged by their own tribes asking for federal investigations - why? Because they're tired of corrupt regimes, just like the rest of the world.

Look up the definition sovereign it means at a basic level, independent. The king and ruler part came from europe. Tribal nations continue to be independent as possible, not because they are trying to upset all the poor dispossessed rednecks but because they have been given a precious heritage that they choose to preserve for the future nations. To all those who have such strong opinions about blame and problem solving; get over yourselves. Support diversity and difference in the world. It makes a very beautiful place to be in this life journey. And that is a part of our heritage, the belief that this life is a journey, not a destination. How we walk in this life we carry with us into the next. Will the smokeshop have a major impact in a year? In twenty years? In one hundred years?Have a good day.

Justice for some
Diversity for Arisocrats

I hate to agree but Larry is partially right when he says that Tribal Sovereignty and True Sovereignty are being confused. It's the white government that has it confused though... they think Tribal is NOT True sovereignty and they act accordingly. If Larry did any research at all (too bad most reporters/writers don't) he would know that regardless of how the US acts, there are laws and opinions on the books that invalidate his obtuse statements. This puts Larry just a few paces ahead of Betty for BONER OF THE WEEK this week.

Our native people would never go to a different country and disrespect their culture or ways. Our sovereignty is guided by our ancestors when we ask for help the way we were taught. I think sometimes we forget that part. It is good to know the wisdom of our people against the greed and make up laws along the way system. I believe people chase or look for what we already know if you understand what i'm talking about. And it is right inside us.

It's a sad state of affairs when non-Natives think of sovereignty as something other than self rule, or define it as something that benefits themselves. If one thinks that the raid on the smoke shop at Narragansett is justified or warranted then that individual is deluded. What it boils down to in its simplest form is paralleled to Iraq, except this was perpetrated at the state level. It's plain and simply an invasion of the Narragansett people and their land. If the US government at any level starts to respect the words of their predecessors I'll be amazed. Promises are promises, and just because years pass what once was black and white does not become a gradient from black to white. Respect sovereignty, respect the treaties, respect others. Non-Natives are fine with corporations monopolizing business, as is the government, but when Natives try to develop themselves economically it all of a sudden becomes wrong. Ignorance is indeed bliss. The US has just embarked upon a campaign of violence and they are themselves being rewarded, the only thing secureed in Iraq has been the oil fields, where US politicans have a vested interest. Educate yourself. FUGB