Government 205 - Colloquium: Indigenous Peoples in the New Global Order

The status of indigenous peoples, both domestically and internationally, is dizzyingly complex. The course begins by looking at indigenous rights claims under both domestic and international laws to understand the nature of "group" rights. The course then explores the status of indigenous persons ion the US, looking at relationships among and between tribes and tribal members, between states and tribes, and between tribes and the federal government. Throughout, the course will draw comparisons with the treatment of indigenous claims across the globe. The second half of the course explores contemporary issues, such as claims of indigenous groups to the protection of sacred sites, the repatriation of indigenous remains, the treatment of indigenous children, and subsistence and other issues associated with environmental exploitation and development. Enrollment limited to 24.