7 canonical passages across 4 cases, quoted by 28 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 | Native Village Of Noatak v. Hoffman | green | “the commissioner of the department of community and regional affairs of the state of alaska violated federal laws and policies intended to further tribal self-government.” | 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 | “the united states has at no time recognized any tribal independence or relations among these indians, ... and that they have been and now are regarded as dependent subjects.” | 4 |
| 7 | 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.