Conclusion: The Basic Principles of SovereigntyPrior to colonization, Native American tribes in what is now the United States were independent political entities. The federal Doctrine of Inherent Tribal Sovereignty and California Executive Order B-10-11 recognize our status as independent nations, a status that pre-exists and is independent of federal recognition. All tribes are considered domestic dependent sovereign nations, whether federally recognized or not. Native tribes exist as independent political entities with limited sovereignty under the dominion of the federal government of the United States. Congress exercises plenary power over tribes within the United States. In order to exercise sovereignty as a Native political entity, tribes must first prove that their members have a direct biological connection to the aboriginal tribal nations that preexisted colonization.
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Sovereignty1. All California Native tribes, recognized and unrecognized, possess an inherent sovereignty.
2. A California Native tribe can only exercise sovereignty within the boundaries of its respective tribal territory. |
Indigeneity
3. Proof of direct lineal descent from an aboriginal California Native tribe serves as the only valid indicator for determining a person’s aboriginal tribe of origin—that is, for determining a person’s direct connection to a preexisting political entity referred to as a tribe.
4. Lineal descent from an aboriginal California Native tribe provides persons with the legitimacy,
- to claim an identity as a person who is Indigenous to California
- "I am a California Native."
- to claim membership in a California Native people group
- "I am Chumash."
- to be/become a member of a currently existing tribe
- “I am a member of the Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians.”