This guidebook is designed to provide a strong foundation for understanding digital sovereignty and Tribal Nations in the United States. It introduces key concepts, outlines the building blocks of digital sovereignty, highlighting examples of sovereignty in action, and offering readers:
A foundation for understanding Tribal Digital Sovereignty.
The American Indian Policy Institute’s Indigenous Leadership Academy (ILA) continues to highlight the journeys of its alumni through the “Where Are They Now?” series. This installment features Marcus Benally, a financial leader, mentor, and connector of people whose impact has extended across Native communities and professional networks alike.
Read the fact sheet to learn more.
Summary:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released Internet Access Services: Status as of June 20, 2024, estimating 549 million internet connections nationwide with breakdowns by technology type, speed, and state or territory.
On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a policy notice amending the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) program requirements.
While the NTIA describes this as a “restructuring,” the amendment significantly departs from the program’s original requirements.
The American Indian Policy Institute’s Indigenous Leadership Academy (ILA) is currently supporting its second cohort. Community members and stakeholders can sign up here to follow along and receive updates.
This brief follows up on the recent AIPI Policy Explainer: Federal Trust Responsibility and Higher Education, which clarified the status of programs supporting American Indian students in higher education in response to recent legal and policy developments by explaining that Federal relationships with Tribal Nations and their citizens/members are based on political distinctions rather than racial classifications.
This explainer clarifies the status of programs supporting American Indian students in higher education in response to recent legal and policy developments. Federal relationships with Tribal Nations and their citizens/members are based on political distinctions rather than racial classifications. The framework outlined in this document reflects the federal government’s unique relationship with and obligations to Tribal Nations.
Legal Framework
The decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. is just as impactful as the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, its ruling on Presidential immunity, or any of the other recent blockbuster decisions. On its face, Loper Bright appeared to be a rather benign case involving commercial fishing vessels and whether private parties had to pay for federal observers on those vessels for purposes of monitoring possible overfishing – a scenario with little relevance to most tribes.