本文先參酌國外經驗，從歐洲所發展出來的發現主義，探討原住民族主權議題的起源，以及原住民族主權的內涵，進而回顧歷史，探討前接觸時期、荷蘭、清朝、日本以迄今日，台灣原住民族主權的內涵及其變遷，此一考察發現自從和外來者接觸以來，雖然歷經外來者的征伐、侵略及統治，然而，除了少數曾與荷蘭東印度公司簽訂讓渡主權條約的村、社外，多數的原住民族只是被強迫納入一個又一個的統治體系中，未曾放棄、或讓渡其主權，所以台灣的原住民族依然是主權民族，因此，應建立符合原住民族固有主權的原住民族自治、土地制度，並應承認原住民族傳統習慣規範的效力，法律的解釋也應尊重原住民族的觀點。

Reflecting on the Doctrine of Discovery, we start with the exploration of the origin, content, and development of the idea of indigenous sovereignty. We then look into how indigenous sovereignty has been encroached from the Dutch, Ching, Japanese, and through Han-Chinese rulers. Judging from historical records, we find that except from some villages or band who had signed treaties with the Dutch, most of the Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan have never given up their sovereignty. As sovereign nations, they are entitled to the rights to self-government and land titles. Further, their customary laws ought to be honored.