What does “tribal sovereignty” mean and why is it important to American Indians?
Tribal sovereignty describes the right of federally recognized tribes to govern themselves and the existence of a government-to-government relationship with the United States. Thus, a tribe is not a ward of the government, but an independent nation with the right to form its own government, adjudicate legal cases within its borders, levy taxes within its borders, establish its membership, and decide its own future fate. The federal government has a trust responsibility to protect tribal lands, assets, resources, and treaty rights. For purposes of Lumbee, however, the State of North Carolina will continue civil and criminal jurisdiction over Lumbee. And, while the Tribe is governed by a Tribal constitution, the Lumbee constitution court may only hear internal matters that arise from interpretation of the Lumbee Tribal Constitution. Do Indians pay taxes? All Indians are subject to federal income taxes. As sovereign entities, tribal governments have the power to levy taxes on reservation
