Tribal sovereignty is a long game. In meeting with federal or state officials, Tribal leaders often proclaim that the Tribes were here first and they will be here after everyone else is gone. Our stewardship will last beyond the decisions of today. It is easy to get caught up in the concept that the sky is falling, but it isn’t — at least not everywhere. However, what is happening in some cases, like in the Line 5 pipeline, could bring irreversible damage to Tribal and non-Tribal communities. Today’s decisions will significantly impact our shared ability to live on this land in the right way in the future, at least until we can right today’s wrongs.

The National Indian Law Library is dedicated to federal Indian and Tribal law. As part of NARF, the library serves both NARF attorneys and the public by maintaining a unique and valuable collection of Indian law resources and providing specialized research assistance on Indian Law topics.

This article provides a case review and discussion of a growing conflict between Tribal Nations and non‑Indian landowners over who has the authority to regulate water use on non-Indian fee land within reservation boundaries—Tribes or states.