The Meskwaki Settlement endures as a sovereign nation within the state of Iowa, maintaining institutions and practices the tribe considers essential to its sustainability.
The tribe’s sovereignty extends specifically to the 7,785 acres that comprise the settlement in Tama County. Smaller holdings in adjacent Marshall and Palo Alto counties are not covered, said Joshua Sales, GIS systems analyst for the Meskwaki Nation.
Here are some ways the Meskwaki, under agreements with the state and federal governments, exercise their sovereignty:
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How does the Meskwaki Nation practice sovereignty?
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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