2. Early Encounters and Diplomacy
During early contact with European settlers, Native nations actively engaged in diplomacy and treaty-making, asserting their recognized sovereign status. A pivotal example is the 1621 Wampanoag-Pilgrim treaty, which established formal relations and set a precedent for mutual agreements. These early treaties reflected a world where Indigenous governance was respected, and negotiation was central to coexistence. For further exploration of historic treaties, visit U.S. National Archives: Native American Treaties.
