The article focuses on the case Santa Clara Pueblo versus Martinez which has become symbolic of the federal courts' deference to tribal sovereignty in the U.S. It cites two interrelated events that gave rise to renewed interest in the case. The case involved a dispute over the membership status of the children of Julia Martinez, a member of Santa Clara Pueblo, and her husband Myles Martinez, a Navajo. The case shapes outsiders' perceptions of American Indians and tribal governments.
