American Indian Sovereignty: What it Means, Why it Matters, and the Supreme Court’s Efforts to Limit it

Monday, May 1 • 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET

One of the missions of the Pepper Center for Public Service is to raise our own awareness and provide educational opportunities regarding social issues facing the country today. In service to that goal, the Center since 2020 has explored a number of issues concerning race in America.

We are beginning a new area of study next month focused on the United States’ relationship with American Indians and past and current legal and social issues pertaining to indigenous peoples. The Supreme Court has been very active in the American Indian law space over the past few years and these discussions are particularly important to understanding the implications for American Indians. All members of the Troutman and Pepper Center communities are invited to participate in this program.

Our first talk, scheduled for May 1, 2023 at noon, will be led by Jacob Franchek, a Troutman Pepper attorney who is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and whose practice includes American Indian law. Jacob will provide an introduction to the American Indian Nations’ status and history as sovereign entities, and an overview of the jurisdictional issues impacting them in the past and today. CLE credit will be offered for this session.

Future talks will discuss other legal issues that have greatly impacted American Indians, including treaty litigation in the context of Pacific Northwest fishing rights as well as the pending U.S. Supreme Court case involving adoption preference/constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. We enthusiastically welcome additional expertise and resources on other relevant issues. If you would like to participate or have contacts who might be good speakers on relevant topics, please contact Pepper Center Fellow Lisanne Crowley. In preparation for these sessions, or just to learn more about this subject generally, please see this American Indian Resources list. We welcome additions to this list and hope to keep it a dynamic resource.