As an Indigenous American Indian, whose ancestors were reclassified as Negro and ultimately African-American, I am calling for action. There is significant miseducation regarding the 14th Amendment that has obscured our inherent sovereignty. From the 1830s to the mid-20th century, those who did not relocate to reservations and remained on their homelands were reclassified from their indigenous titles to Negro. This reclassification was a consequence of their refusal to leave their ancestral lands, occurring in various regions of the southeastern United States, including Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, the Carolinas, and Virginia.

Many of us were taught that being born in the United States automatically makes us U.S. citizens. This, however, omits a crucial detail - not all are “born subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.” As Indigenous peoples, we have maintained an inherited sovereignty, a birthright passed down through our bloodline (jus sanguinis). This birthright, this inherent sovereignty, has unfortunately been overridden in common interpretations of the 14th Amendment.

According to the Congressional Research Service, in the 1868 Senate debate on the 14th Amendment, Senator Jacob Howard clearly described the intent of the citizenship clause by stating that it “will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.”

Key Points:
14th Amendment: While it grants citizenship and equal protection under the law, it does not negate the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to self-governance as recognized by international law and treaties.
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924: This act granted U.S. citizenship to Indians but did not force them to abandon their tribal sovereignty or self-governance. It was more of a confirmation of jus soli, which is birthright citizenship based on birth within a particular place, but it did not negate jus sanguinis.
UNDRIP: This declaration affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs. It emphasizes their right to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures, and traditions.
American Indian Policy Review Commission of 1977: This commission highlighted the rights of remnant communities and their descendants, emphasizing the need to protect and uphold these rights.
Conclusion:
The rights to self-governance and autonomy for Indigenous peoples, as recognized by UNDRIP, remain intact and are not negated by U.S. constitutional amendments or citizenship acts. These rights are protected and respected under international law, ensuring that Indigenous peoples can govern themselves without undue interference.

There is a confluence of misunderstanding shielding reality. The misinterpretation has resulted in the illusion that our inherent sovereignty has been erased. It’s time we rectify this misrepresentation. Together, we can bring much-needed clarity to this issue and re-instill our rightful sovereignty. Join us in this campaign to correct the miseducation. We have a right to self-determination. Your signature can push for a comprehensive reeducation to rectify this long-standing error. Sign the petition today.

Definitions to Clarify Our Identity
Indian: A member of any of the aboriginal races of North or South America; commonly applied to the aboriginal inhabitants of North America (Black’s Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition).
American: A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now somehow applied to the descendants of European Americans (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).

These definitions highlight the original application of these terms to Indigenous peoples and the subsequent reclassification and misinterpretation that have obscured our true identity and rights.

 
This message is sponsored by the National Indigenous American [Committee], also known as the American Indian Party. A political organization established to protect and uphold the rights of Indigenous people who have been reclassified throughout the Americas.