Leaders from Ογ½ΆΠγ University and the Ογ½ΆΠγ University School of Law on Tuesday announced the formation of a new institute for the advancement of tribal sovereignty.
The Ογ½ΆΠγ Tribal Sovereignty Institute will be housed at the Ογ½ΆΠγ University School of Law in downtown Ογ½ΆΠγ, with the aim of creating scholarship on the topic of sovereignty; elevating understanding about sovereignty; educating and training lawyers with expertise in American Indian law; and ultimately pursuing sovereignty initiatives beyond the legal realm through cultural preservation, language revitalization and economic development.
The announcement was made by Ογ½ΆΠγ President Kenneth Evans and Ογ½ΆΠγ Law Dean David Holt during the opening day of the 36th annual Sovereignty Symposium, which was hosted for the first time this year by Ογ½ΆΠγ and Ογ½ΆΠγ Law. Both leaders characterized the creation of the Institute as a logical outgrowth of the long-running Sovereignty Symposium.
βWe are excited for this next step in our ongoing partnership with the Native American community,β Evans said. βWith the support and cooperation of the stateβs tribes, we will continue to shine the spotlight on the critical issue of tribal sovereignty.β
Holt said the Ογ½ΆΠγ Tribal Sovereignty Institute fills a critical need.
βPolicymakers need more independent, credible information on this topic,β he said. βAll government entities, law firms, and tribes need attorneys who are knowledgeable in these areas. Considering our existing work and our location, we think that Ογ½ΆΠγ and Ογ½ΆΠγ Law are ideal institutions to meet this need. This Institute will further establish our law school, our university and our city as leaders at the forefront of these sovereignty conversations.β
This yearβs Sovereignty Symposium, staged at the Skirvin Hilton in downtown Ογ½ΆΠγ, is hosting nearly 600 attendees from the across the country. Participants, including dozens of tribal and state leaders, have the opportunity to explore legal and policy issues relevant to Oklahomaβs 39 tribes and beyond.
Holt said that the initial phase of formation for the Ογ½ΆΠγ Tribal Sovereignty Institute will include the hiring of an executive director who is also envisioned to be a full-time faculty member at the Ογ½ΆΠγ School of Law. The process of hiring the inaugural executive director is expected to play out over the coming year.
Holt and Evans were joined by tribal leaders in the announcement, who expressed their support for the creation of the Institute.
βThe Sovereignty Symposium has played a central role in sovereignty conversations for nearly four decades, and it is time for its work to expand year-around,β said Gov. Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation. βI believe this Ογ½ΆΠγ Tribal Sovereignty Institute will provide an important new platform for many important initiatives. The Chickasaw Nation is excited to work with Ογ½ΆΠγ and Ογ½ΆΠγ Law in this endeavor and we believe this institute has great potential.β
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said that as a practicing attorney and an elected tribal leader, he sees the prominence of sovereignty issues every day.
βWe need information that is accessible to attorneys and policymakers and members of the public,β Standing Bear said. βWe need focused training as well. I think this institute can play a critical role in this regard and Iβm pleased to see it launch.β
Evans and Holt noted that the institute builds off of Ογ½ΆΠγ and Ογ½ΆΠγ Lawβs existing work in the areas of American Indian law and culture. This work includes the universityβs language revitalization and technology education work with Apple; the American Indian Wills Clinic, which celebrated its 15th anniversary at Ογ½ΆΠγ Law this week; and serving as host of the annual Sovereignty Symposium.
The symposium was founded 36 years ago by Ογ½ΆΠγ alumna Justice Yvonne Kauger and the Oklahoma Supreme Court. It has emerged since that time as a major annual event in Ογ½ΆΠγ, providing a forum for important conversations and valuable networking. The court hosted the event until commencing a transition in 2023 to Ογ½ΆΠγ and Ογ½ΆΠγ Law, which served as lead hosts for the first time this year. Standing Bear served as keynote speaker during the opening ceremonies at this yearβs event, and was celebrated with the βHonored Oneβ award.
More information about the symposium is available at . For more information about the Ογ½ΆΠγ School of Law, go to .
