The cornerstone of Clark's argument is the 1763 Royal Proclamation which forbade non-natives under British authority to molest or disturb any tribe or tribal territory in British North America. Clark contends that this proclamation had legislative force and that, since imperial law on this matter has never been repealed, the right to self-government continues to exist for Canadian natives.

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"Native Liberty, Crown Sovereignty is the most important and meticulous recent study of native rights in the common law." James Tully, Canadian Journal of Political Science. "This book will have a major impact upon the field, upon public policy, and upon aboriginal rights and constitutional reform ... The research is exhaustive, the sources comprehensive, and the reasoning and scholarship sound." David C. Hawkes, School of Public Administration, Carleton University. "Native Liberty, Crown Sovereignty makes a significant contribution to the field of Indian law scholarship in Canada ... extraordinarily thorough research." Richard B. Collins, School of Law, University of Colorado.