In Defense of Sovereignty tells the story of the Oneida Nation’s struggles for self-determination. Since the removal of the Oneida people from New York in the 1820s to what would become Wisconsin, the Nation has been engaged in legal conflicts to retain its sovereignty and its lands. Legal scholar and former Oneida Nation senior staff attorney Rebecca M. Webster traces this history, including the Nation’s treaties with the US but focusing especially on its relationship with the village of Hobart, Wisconsin. Since 2003, six disputes have led to litigation between the local government and the Nation. Central to these disputes are Hobart’s attempts to regulate the Nation and relegate its government to the position of a common landowner, subject to municipal authority. As in so many conflicts between Indigenous nations and local municipalities, the media narrative about the Oneida Nation’s battle for sovereignty has been dominated by the local government’s standpoint. In Defense of Sovereignty offers another perspective, that of a citizen directly involved in the litigation, augmented by contributions from historians, attorneys, and a retired Nation employee. It makes an important contribution to public debates about the inherent right of Indigenous nations to continue to exist and exercise self-governance within their territories without being challenged at every turn. “A comprehensive and robust defense of Oneida sovereignty. . . . Demonstrates that sovereignty is not an abstract political concept or exercise. It is, fundamentally, about the nation’s right to secure a future for its people.” ― American Indian Culture and Research Journal “An extraordinary and seminal work of impeccable scholarship. . . . Absolutely essential and unreservedly recommended.” ― Midwest Book Review “Tells a story of resilience that will resonate with many audiences and should be widely read.” ― Choice “This singular volume illustrates the conflicts most Indigenous nations have had with the governments of this country. Webster offers clear and formidable arguments for the inherent rights of all Native nations to life, self-governance, safety and sovereignty.” ― Karla Strand, Ms. Magazine “A compelling account of the Oneida Nation’s struggle to retain its sovereignty and its reservation lands. This book describes jurisdictional battles that Indian nations in the United States are continually confronted with, and provides helpful instruction on how these nations can work on a government-to-government basis with their neighbors. It offers hope that Indian nations can preserve their cultural and political integrity and continue to prosper and thrive.” -- C. Kent McNeil, author of Flawed Precedent: The “St. Catherine’s” Case and Aboriginal Title “This valuable book lays out the features of a legal and political strategy to defend a reservation boundaries case. This material is very readable, even thrilling in places where tribal citizens detail their ongoing, real-world struggles with the Village of Hobart. Successful and compelling.” -- Matthew L. M. Fletcher, author of Ghost Road: Anishinaabe Responses to Indian-Hating “ In Defense of Sovereignty  is the story of what happens when racially tinged rhetoric and litigation becomes costly intergovernmental tension that lasts for decades. Dr. Rebecca Webster, a former tribal attorney, tells a compelling story that should be required reading for every politician whose municipality interacts with Native nations.” -- Patty Loew, author of Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal “An intimate and informative account of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. There are two major themes: the Oneidas’ complex history and their modern efforts to regain sovereignty. After migrating from New York in the 1820s, the Oneidas faced an unusually complex struggle for treaty land. Later they were harsh victims of the government’s allotment laws, the worst policy Congress imposed on tribes. The book’s modern parts detail legal struggles against the state municipal government that covers half the Oneida Reservation.” -- Richard Collins, University of Colorado Rebecca M. Webster is an associate professor of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a citizen of the Oneida Nation. She is the author of Our Precious Corn: Yukwanénste and In Defense of Sovereignty: Protecting the Oneida Nation’s Inherent Right to Self-Determination.