Dennis W. DeConcini Quotes

I disapprove... of the proposal to subject the Indians to our laws without their consent,... It is so little in concord with our principles of government.

[Tribal] Sovereignty is just a means to an end. The end is healthy, happy and safe communities.

While Indians were in a state of at least semi-independence, there did not seem to be any great necessity for interference.

When once an Indian sees that his food is secure, he does not care what the chief or any one else says.

The Indians have a right to the occupation of their lands, independent of the States within whose chartered lines they happen to be

The rule of liberty that all government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self government. We govern the Indians without their consent, we govern our territories without their consent, we govern our children without their consent.

There is a perception of the general irrelevance of aboriginal culture….We haven't gone anywhere. We still exist. …. Get the hell out of our lives and give us our land back.

We do not want your civilization. We would live as our fathers did, and their fathers before them.

With it we can create our own destiny. It’s a sovereignty issue. It’s our land, and we’ll do what we want with it.

It's time to bring dignity, honor, self-reliance, and self-government to people that have been held, not necessarily in bondage, but certainly as supplicants under an Indian Act that is archaic.

Freedom is the red man's heritage, the precious boon of his nomadic life; and retaining that, he will assume a friendly attitude toward other men if assured of their good-will and love of peace.

We turn now to plotting our own destinies, setting our own agendas. We are determined. We know what we want. Nation to nation—a bilateral process with the Canadian government.

The Cherokee Nation has had a government for a long, long, long time. We had a government in this country long before there was a United States government.

We must frequently promote their [Native Americans] interest against their inclination.

I remember saying to the chairman after serving the first year, 'Why are we doing this? Why don't the Hawaiians have control?' 'Well, we have no mechanism to do it,' I was told.

Well, it's very clear that the Arab population is rising because they'd like to have a say in the running of their affairs, running of their government, and this is very legitimate.

We need to give the Iraqis a chance to build their own future. It should be in their hands. It must be in their hands. That is what democracy is all about. We can teach it, we can explain it, but they must want it enough to make it work for them.

We wish for their own good to give the Indians full participation of the benefits of our free and mild government

We do not want to be anybody's pawns. We are an ancient people. We want our autonomy. We want sarbasti—freedom. I do not know who will take my place one day. But they cannot crush us.

We're seeking sovereignty because it is absolutely essential, like the ripening of the fruit, like reaching adulthood, like the opening of river into the ocean. It is necessary because we are a people.

I don't think the approach is to simply give them [the Indian tribes] money, because too much money has disappeared in Indian country, too much has been mismanaged. The history of Indian country is the disappearance of money.

Our relations with the Indians located within our border impose upon us responsibilities we can not escape. Humanity and consistency require us to treat them with forbearance and in our dealings with them to honestly and considerately regard their rights and interests.

There will be no annexation of ourselves or our territory to an independent Quebec without our consent.

There is now a recognition that there are three sovereigns in this country, and they are the Federal Government, the state governments and the tribal governments.

The proper treatment of the original occupants of this land—the Indians is one deserving of careful study. I will favor any course toward them which tends to their civilization and ultimate citizenship.