Rights Framework

The Tshano’kai Velokah Tribal Nation affirms inherent sovereignty and self-determination as a matter of natural law, ancestral continuity, and the collective will of our people. We align our governance principles with internationally recognized Indigenous rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Self-Determination and Self-Government

We affirm the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and to freely determine political status and pursue economic, social, and cultural development.

Institutions and Decision-Making

We affirm the right to maintain and strengthen our institutions and to participate in decision-making through our own representative institutions, including the standard of free, prior, and informed consent for actions that affect our people.

Land, Culture, and Heritage

We affirm collective rights related to lands, territories, resources, cultural heritage, and the protection and revitalization of traditions and knowledge.

Identity and Membership

We affirm the right of Indigenous peoples to determine their own identity and membership in accordance with their customs and traditions.

This framework expresses alignment with international standards; it does not concede that our sovereignty depends on outside recognition.