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.
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.
The Annual Sequoyah Commission Conference will be held at NSU in Tahlequah later this week: September 3-4, 2009. The full agenda is here and there is no registration fee. Congrats to Dr. Richard Allen for putting this together and good luck to the presenters. For more info contact Dr. Allen at the Cherokee Nation.
Professor Sean Teuton has a new book “Red Land, Red Power” with Duke University Press. Professor Teuton currently holds a joint appointment in English and American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Congratulations Sean!
LAWRENCE — Most people think of Indian treaty making as a convention of the past, but a leading tribal scholar will make a case for its resurgence during the 13th annual Tribal Law and Government Conference at the University of Kansas School of Law. Robert Clinton, Foundation Professor of Law at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, will present “The Return of Indian Treaty Making” during the event, set to run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Gridiron Room in the Burge Union, 1601 Irving Hill Road. His presentation is part of a lineup that represents a forward-focused view of tribal law and governance. “The speakers are experts in their field and represent a good interdisciplinary cross-section of law and policy,” said Stacy Leeds, professor of law and director of the Tribal Law and Government Center at the KU School of Law. “In contrast to many conferences that focus on federal case decisions and federal law as it relates to Indian tribes, the speakers at this conference will offer observations on the role of tribal law and tribal governments. “They each will discuss new approaches or new perspectives on tribal decision making and tribal governance with an eye toward the future. The presentations will not dwell on the history of federal Indian law and policy but instead, on the future of indigenous law and policy making.” In addition to Clinton, who is chief justice of the Winnebago Supreme Court and associate justice of other tribal courts, conference presenters will include: — Patrice Kunesh, University of South Dakota School of Law, “Tribal Self-Determination in the Age of Scarcity”
Tribal law conference casts eye on future of indigenous policy making
— Aliza Organick, Washburn University School of Law, “Teaching Culture in the Classroom: Tribal Law and Best Practices in Legal Education”
— Steve Russell, Indiana University, “Sequoyah Rising: Doing What We Can with What We’ve Got”
— Christine Zuni-Cruz, University of New Mexico School of Law, “‘Who are You?’ Indigenous Identity and the Lines of Tribe”
— Jeff Corntassel, University of Victoria School of Law, “Indigenous Governance Amidst the Forced Federalism Era”
KU's annual Tribal Law & Government Center Conference
will be held on February 13th, 2009 in Lawrence, Kansas.
The conference is free of charge and open to the public, but please register in advance
| 8:30-9 a.m. | Registration and Coffee |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions Stacy L. Leeds, Professor of Law and Director, Tribal Law & Government Center, University of Kansas School of Law Gail Agrawal, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Kansas School of Law |
| 9:30-10:20 a.m. | "Tribal Self-Determination in the Age of Scarcity" Patrice Kunesh, Professor of Law, University of South Dakota School of Law |
| 10:20-10:40 a.m. | BREAK |
| 10:40-11:30 a.m. | "Teaching Culture in the Classroom: Tribal Law and Best Practices in Legal Education" Aliza Organick, Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law |
| 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | "Sequoyah Rising: Doing What We Can With What We've Got" Steve Russell, Professor, University of Indiana |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. | LUNCH on own |
| 1:30-2:20 p.m. | "The Return of Indian Treaty Making" Robert Clinton, Foundation Professor of Law, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law |
| 2:30-3:20 p.m. | "'Who Are You?' Indigenous Identity and the Lines of Tribe" Christine Zuni-Cruz, Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law |
| 3:20-3:40 p.m. | BREAK |
| 3:40-4:30 p.m. | "Indigenous Governance Amidst the Forced Federalism Era" Jeff Corntassel, Associate Professor, University of Victoria School of Law |
| 4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks |