This seminar will examine a number of the current issues involving American Indians and American Indian tribes. The seminar will cover several topics including: Indian casinos and other forms of gaming, tribal economic development, tribal access to capital markets, the Indian mascot controversy, cultural intellectual property, declination of prosecution for non-Indian on Indian crime on the reservation (particularly domestic violence), racial vs. non-racial constructions of Indian identity, affirmative action and American Indians, as well as other topics.
The first half of the semester will focus on covering these topics substantively. The latter half of the seminar will emphasize student research and writing, culminating in the presentation of student papers. Although not required, empirical research will be encouraged and supported.
This seminar is structured so that Federal Indian Law is not a prerequisite. Students unfamiliar with the unique legal situation confronting American Indian tribes will be given sufficient foundational information so as to be able to actively participate in the seminar. Students who have previously taken Federal Indian Law can use this seminar as an opportunity to examine topics from that course in much greater detail.