Native systems of governance have faced intense challenges since European explorers first landed on these shores. While America's founding fathers took inspiration from Indigenous governments, the relationship between First Nations and the U.S. Government has been defined by fundamental conflicts over sovereignty, territory, citizenship, and individual rights.
Watch the Wisconsin Academy's Roots of Democracy Series discussion with a panel of First Nations scholars who explore how Indigenous governments have responded to these challenges and the obstacles to sovereignty that still remain in place.
View a transcript of the recording
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