While it is true that they have their own tribal police, they exist for simple criminal behavior. Federal felons, insurrection, etc. would all be subject to Federal authority if they became obvious.
My point, is that entire system is archaic and outdated, and certainly not in the best interest of either the United States as a whole, or the Indians living there themselves as eveidenced by any number of clear factors.
IMHO, as an individual who lives out in the west and sees these conditions and hears of these radicals fairly regularly...that the entire system needs to be done away with and the people engrafted into the nation.
But that is just my opinion.
I will bet you this, if these radicals made any overt moves to try and establish in fact and reality twhat they talk about (ie. began blocking off interstate highways at their "border"), Not only would you see the US Federal government immediatly squash it...you would see a civil war amongst the Indians themselves.
I never said nor intended to say that Native Americans had to renounce their citizenship to live on the res. Just the opposite. Many Lakota have NOT chosen to become uS citizens. But I have to disagree with you about sovereignty. The recognized tribes are free to run their own court systems and self determine the running of the reservations (within some bounds). If you break the law on a res you go to THEIR court not a state court.They are exempt from many Federal laws and from many laws in the States the reservations are in. The Lakota are somewhat different because of the terms their treaties were initiated under and the circumstances they were "negotiated" under. Native Americans are a unique type of person in the united States. They can choose to be citizens or not - unlike one who is born in a state and automatically given a Birth Certificate.
It is unfortunate that this recent move is done by Russell. His baggage will cloud the real issue of how the BIA treats the NA's. Rosebud Reservation is one of the poorest places on Earth. The Feds will claim that because they have paid all of the $$$ granted in treaties has been paid and that the treaties are in force and valid. As I said in my first post when it comes to court time the Lakota need to be very careful about what questions they ask the court.
BTW I know this because my hunting guide is a Lakota Elder and one of my buddies is married to a direct descendant of Sitting Bull. I am one of the few white people granted specific permission to visit Wounded Knee. No I am not an "Indian" proponent; I just understand their side of this issue.