Triangular negotiations of island sovereignty: Indigenous and customary authorities - metropolitan states - local metropolitan authorities

The benefits of subnational island jurisdiction (SNIJ) status are well detailed, but less attention has been given to the diffusion of economic, social and political benefits associated with these islands’ Islandian sovereignty among diverse island populations. The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples indicated the international community’s formal recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights to political self-determination and govern their own affairs through their own decision-making institutions, and requires states to consult with these organisations to obtain free, prior and informed consent. Yet, few SNIJs with Indigenous peoples have established or restored Indigenous bodies of authority distinct from local governments. In the context of Islandian sovereignty and the unique power relationships organised between metropoles and islands, we consider how Indigenous authorities negotiate independence and dependence, statehood and non-sovereignty, autonomy and control. This article offers a foundational typology for thinking about these multilateral relations between metropoles, SNIJs, and customary or Indigenous authorities.