2024-2025 Law School Catalog

LAW-2386 Federal Indian Law and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.

As a practicing attorney, you are more likely than ever to encounter Federal Indian law issues - from complex business transactions to adoption to jurisdictional and choice of law questions. This course will help you to develop some expertise in the field of Federal Indian Law, while exploring other related areas of law that intersect with this field; such as constitutional law, property law, family law, gaming law, and international human rights law. The primary focus of this course is on defining and understanding the legal relationship that exists among Native American Nations, the Federal Government, and States. The course also explores how Native American Nations and Indigenous Peoples from around the world have established internationally recognized human rights to natural resources, land, self-determination, and culture by examining international human rights cases. The grade for this course is determined by class participation and an exam (or paper that meets the legal writing requirement, as the student chooses). This course is a suggested prerequisite for the Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples Clinic, which focuses on nation building projects and International Human Rights cases. Students may also elect to fulfill their legal writing requirement through this course.

Credits

3