Pueblo of Zia

The Pueblo of Zia, like all federally recognized tribes, is a sovereign nation. Indian Nations are distinct political communities, having territorial boundaries, within which their authority is exclusive, and having a right to all the lands within those boundaries, which is not only acknowledged but guaranteed by the United States. (Worcester v. Georgia, 6 Pet. 515, 557, 8L. Ed. 483, 499 1832). Tribal sovereignty is guaranteed by treaties between Indian Nations and the US government. It is important to note that these treaties do not grant rights from the US government to Indian Nations, but rather from Indian Nations to the US government. Zia Pueblos government is similar to that of a state government in terms of structure and authority. Like all governments, Zia Pueblo has certain rights and responsibilities. It can levy taxes on sales of goods and services within the reservation boundaries. It develops and enforces its own laws, planning and zoning regulations, building codes, e...