November is Native American Heritage Month, and we’re marking the occasion with a book display that showcases the rich intersection of Indigenous history, law, and justice. Stop by the Research Desk on the main level of the law library to explore this display of books.
Why This Matters for Legal Education
Understanding Federal Indian Law and Indigenous legal traditions is about recognizing a distinct body of law that operates within our federal system and reflects centuries of treaty-making, sovereignty struggles, and resilience. Whether you’re interested in civil rights, environmental law, criminal jurisdiction, or constitutional law, Indigenous legal issues touch all of these areas in significant ways.
What You’ll Find in the Display
Our display brings together works that span multiple dimensions of Native American legal scholarship:
Federal Indian Law & Tribal Sovereignty: Dive into texts that explore the complex relationship between tribal nations and the U.S. government, including works on treaty justice and the ongoing evolution of tribal law.
Indigenous Concepts of Justice: Discover how traditional Indigenous approaches to justice offer alternative frameworks that challenge conventional Western legal thinking. These approaches might include: emphasizing peacemaking, community healing, and restorative practices.
Legal History: From the story of the “First Trickster” to examinations of civil rights movements in the Deep South, these titles trace the historical arc of Native American legal struggles and victories, including the Northwest Tribes and the landmark Boldt Decision.
Cultural Heritage & Contemporary Issues: Explore how law intersects with pressing contemporary concerns like climate change impacts on Indigenous peoples, the protection of sacred sites and religious freedom, land conservation, and the ongoing fights for repatriation and cultural preservation.
Regional Perspectives: The display features works on Alaska Native history and resilience, Navajo Nation peacemaking traditions, and other specific tribal and regional contexts that highlight the diversity of Indigenous legal experiences.
The display is located at the Research Desk on the main level—you can’t miss it! Take a moment to flip through a few titles, and consider how Indigenous legal perspectives might inform your own thinking about justice, rights, and the role of law in society.