The concept of an Indian Nation's sovereign status is often misunderstood, and the true answers sometimes are misinterpreted. Sovereignty means self-determination as a separate distinct governmental entity.

President Clinton, in addressing the 500 or more tribal leaders of recognized Indian Tribes in the United States in April '94, reaffirmed that the Indian Nations of the United States, where they exist as federally recognized tribes, have the sovereign authority to interact on a government-to-government basis directly with federal agencies.

Just as the United States Constitution still bears the same uncompromising importance and credibility it did when the ink was still wet on its pages, so do the treaties that were made between a fledgling United States and its first ally and steadfast friend, the Oneida Indian Nation.

The Oneida Indian Nation's "Treaties Project" was developed to provide easy access for native and non-native people alike to important treaties. The first treaties presented in the project will focus on Oneida treaties. As the project grows, significant treaties from other Indian nations will be added.

We hope you will find this project to be helpful.