6 canonical passages across 4 cases, quoted by 24 opinions in total. These passages cluster together because the same opinions keep quoting them side by side — they state parts of one doctrine. The anchor passage is from Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Matthew B. Connolly, Etc..
| # | Case | Flag | Canonical passage | Citers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Matthew B. Connolly, Etc. Anchor | green | “if a group of indians has a set of legal rights by virtue of its status as a tribe, then it ought not to lose those rights absent a voluntary decision made by the tribe” | 4 |
| 2 | Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corp., Matthew B. Connolly, Etc. | green | “if all or nearly all members of a tribe chose to abandon the tribe, then, it follows, the tribe would disappear.” | 4 |
| 3 | United States v. State Of Washington | green | “when assimilation is complete, those of the group purporting to be the tribe cannot claim tribal rights.” | 4 |
| 4 | Native Village of Venetie I.R.A. Council v. Alaska | green | “some states, called 'public law 280 states,' operate under federal statutes stripping tribal courts of most of their traditional jurisdiction, and giving state courts jurisdiction over indian country in most respects.” | 4 |
| 5 | Native Village of Venetie I.R.A. Council v. Alaska | green | “the law of aboriginal peoples in alaska has remained distinct from indian law for the continental united states, because of the different historical path taken in alaska.” | 4 |
| 6 | In re Sah Quah | green | “their system is essentially patriarchal, and not tribal” | 4 |
A red or yellow flag on a member means the underlying case has negative treatment — for those, check the case page before relying on the passage.