Fact or Fiction: National Museum of the American Indian Hosts Law Symposium

Scholars to Discuss How U.S. History Has Shaped Native American Jurisprudence

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian hosts "Fact or Fiction? The United States Courts' Use of History to Shape Native Law Jurisprudence," a symposium Friday, Oct. 7, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the museum's Rasmuson Theater. Full press release and high-res photos: http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/ponca-tribe-nebraska-brings-its-unique-culture-washington-dc

Since the first court decision to articulate Native American law back in 1823, the nation's courts have repeatedly invoked historical "facts" as a basis for writing judicial doctrines that have been prejudicial and harmful to Native Americans. This symposium will investigate and uncover factual inaccuracies that still permeate law today, such as the idea that Native Americans did not farm or cultivate any land before the arrival of Europeans, the idea that Native Americans have no systems of self-government comparable to the one found in the U.S. Constitution or the idea that during the 19th century all Native nations were engaged in warfare against the U.S. A thorough review reveals that many of the modern Native law doctrines are based in fiction, not fact. Speakers include Stuart Banner, UCLA School of Law; Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), Crowe & Dunlevy, Oklahoma; Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee), Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, New York; and Lindsay Robertson, University of Oklahoma College of Law.  Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the museum, will moderate.

The symposium will be webcast live at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/webcasts. Following the symposium, the public is invited to a book signing and reception at 6 p.m. in the museum's Potomac Atrium featuring Ponca songs and welcoming remarks from Gover, Ponca tribal chairwoman Rebecca White and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The symposium is co-sponsored by the National Native American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association Indian Law Section and presented in conjunction with We Are a People: The Ponca Journey, a two-day festival celebrating the history and culture of the Ponca Nation of Nebraska Oct. 7-8.

For more information on the symposium, visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/symposia.

Media only: Leonda Levchuk, [email protected], (202) 633-6613
Molly Stephey, [email protected], (202) 633-6614

SOURCE Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian