Cherokee author Steve Russell’s new book is out – as blogged by Matthew Fletcher. Steve humbly failed to shamelessly self-promote this, so I’ll do it for him. Congrats Steve and happy semi-retirement! The book can be purchased (at a very reasonable price) by Carolina Academic Press here.
The annual conference of the Sequoyah Commission will be held September 2-3, 2010 in Tahlequah. Congrats to Richard Allen for another job well done in putting together this event. Agenda can be downloaded here: State of Sequoyah Commission Conference Agenda 2010 (2)
Congress finally passed the Tribal Law and Order Act and it awaits Obama’s signature. The full text to the Act is here. The big news is that tribal court sentencing powers are increased to three years and/or $15,000 in some instances and that there are new provisions for accountability when a US attorney declines to prosecute an Indian Country criminal matter.
Congrats to S. Alan Ray for his presidential appointment to the National Advisory Council on Indian Ed. Full press release here:
S Alan Ray and Council on Indian Education.
How many presidential appointments of Cherokees to key positions does this make in the Obama administration? Kudos.
Judge J. Matthew Martin (Associate Judge at EBCI) has a new law review article out The Nature and Extent of the Exercise of Criminal Jurisdiction by the Cherokee Supreme Court: 1823-1835 at 32 North Carolina Central Law Rev. 27 (2009). The most interesting part of the article is the evidence that the Cherokee Nation did exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians (albiet over the non-Indians’ objection). It’s on westlaw and an earlier version of the final piece is here.
This message just went out to tribal employees at Cherokee Nation. Please lift up Wilma’s family in your prayers. Unbelievably huge loss for the Cherokee Nation.
Our personal and national hearts are heavy with sorrow and sadness with the passing this morning of Wilma Mankiller, our former Principal Chief. We feel overwhelmed and lost when we realize she has left us but we should reflect on what legacy she leaves us. We are better people and a stronger tribal nation because her example of Cherokee leadership, statesmanship, humility, grace, determination and decisiveness. When we become disheartened, we will be inspired by remembering how Wilma proceeded undaunted through so many trials and tribulations. Years ago, she and her husband Charlie Soap showed the world what Cherokee people can do when given the chance, when they organized the self-help water line in the Bell community She said Cherokees in that community learned that it was their choice, their lives, their community and their future. Her gift to us is the lesson that our lives and future are for us to decide. We can carry on that Cherokee legacy by teaching our children that lesson. Please keep Charlie, Gina and Felicia in your prayers. Wilma asked that any gifts in her honor be made as donations to One Fire Development Corporation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing Native American communities though economic development, and to valuing the wisdom that exists within each of the diverse tribal communities around the world. Tax deductible donations can be made at www.wilmamankiller.com as well as www.onefiredevelopment.org. The mailing address for One Fire Development Corporation is 1220 Southmore Houston, TX 77004. Details of her memorial service will be forthcoming.
Check www.cherokee.org for news on services.
The Annual Tribal Law Conference at the KU School of Law will be held this year in conjunction with the Four Tribes in Kansas’ Native Nations Law Symposium. Day one (Feb 11th) at KU Law. Day two (Feb. 12th) at Prairie Band Casino and Resort. Agenda and on-line registration here. Among the topics are tribal economic development, gaming, tribal court jurisdiction, probate reform and ethics in tribal government. Cherokee Nation tribal citizens Stacy Leeds, Mark Dodd, and Melody McCoy are among the speakers.
We will hold the 2nd Annual Cherokee Scholars meeting on May 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Tucson, Arizona. We chose this time at our last meeting because it coincides with the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Association Meeting which will be held at University of Arizona on May 20-22. The NAISA conference website is here. For junior scholars that have no university travel funds, we will work to put a pot of money together to help defray costs.
America Meredith is teaching Native American Art History I and II this semester and has shared her syllabi. The Native American Art History I course covers pre-contact to late 19th century. The Native American Art History II course picks up with late 19th century thru 1960. Both links open in Word.