LAW-9020 Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples & Comparative Law
This 1 credit course will explore through a domestic, international, and comparative lens the unique legal relationship between indigenous nations and the U.S. government. Historically, Indigenous Peoples in the U.S. have experienced a changing legal and political environment, from forced assimilation to recognition of their rights to self determination. On the international front, the U.N. General Assembly adopted in 2007 the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This ushered in a new era in Indigenous/Nation State relations, with the international community overwhelming adopting a human rights-based approach to Indigenous Peoples' issues. The course will explore three important and interlinked topics: indigenous sovereignty, land and culture; and will also consider similarities with the historical experiences in Ireland on questions of land and language.