Why Do Indian Nations Have Different Rights?
The U.S. Constitution and federal statutes have established that Indian Nations have a unique set of rights. Their status stems, in part, from the fact that these nations own the land from time immemorial and has made treaties with the United States. These land ownership rights existed before the U.S. or N.Y. were created. While some may not like this fact, the legal reality is that the Haudenosaunee are sovereign nations with international treaty defined rights that no other people have. It is important to note that the Haudenosaunee refused to accept the citizenship offer in 1924, preferring to retain their native citizenship. Congress did grant American citizenship to Indians born within the U. S. after 1924, but the federal law states that such citizenship does not affect the rights of those individual Indians who choose to become citizens. The law states: “That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or
