ACS DC: Sovereignty and Status Series: Tribal Nations Today

Tribal nations, and the inherent sovereignty they exercise, predate the U.S. Constitution. Although the Constitution discusses "Indians not taxed" and the power of Congress to regulate commerce with "Indian tribes," it mostly recognizes the otherness of tribal sovereignty. Tribal nations have tirelessly fought to protect their sovereignty against encroachments of federal and state law in the form of both legislation and common law. 

Join the ACS DC, Austin, and Los Angeles Lawyer Chapters, and the Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C. for a discussion that will focus on tribal sovereignty and how tribal nations interact with the federal and state governments. We hope to discuss the historical context, legal theory, and real world application of tribal sovereignty and the challenges that tribal nations face today. To help guide the discussion we are joined by a tribal leader, a leading Indian law scholar, and a general counsel of a tribal consortium. 

Featuring:

Matthew Fletcher, Professor, Michigan State University College of Law

Leonard Forsman, Chairman, Suquamish Tribe

Natasha Singh, General Counsel, Tanana Chiefs Conference 

Moderated by:

Josh Clause, Principal, Clause Law P.L.L.C.