The University of Oklahoma
College of Law
in conjunction with the
International Intertribal Trade and Investment Organization
is pleased to offer the first of a monthly free and on-line educational lecture series in Tribal Law and Policy
‘…at the end of the Trail of Tears was a promise…’
‘We hold the government to its word’- Indigenous Jurisdiction handed back to Tribes
Indian Country in the Former Indian Territory — Jurisdiction after McGirt v. Oklahoma
This year the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed tribal reservation boundaries that had been disregarded for decades by the State of Oklahoma. The McGirt decision reset the jurisdictional map and upheld a famous U.S. treaty promise, returning jurisdiction in almost half of the state to the federal government and the so-called “Five Civilized Tribes.” Attend this fascinating discussion on the real-world implications and understand the impact of this decision going forward.
Date: Tuesday September 29, 2020
Time: 5:00 pm (Central time)
View the Recorded Discussion for FREE at this Link: https://mymedia.ou.edu/media/Tribal+Law+and+Trade+Policy/1_ptj5yevk
PANELISTS
Taiawagi Helton
W. DeVier Pierson Professor of Law
In 2001 Taiawagi Helton joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he teaches environmental law, property law, and Indian law. His research emphasizes environmental and natural resources issues relating to Native Americans, as well as nation building in Indian country.
Helton began his legal career as a clerk for the Honorable Robert H. Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has served as a Special Justice for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Supreme Court (2004-2008) and as a member of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma Indian Legal Services. In 2012, Helton received the O.U. Regents’ Award for Superior Teaching, the University’s highest award for teaching excellence.
Helton earned his Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School in 2001. In 1999 he received a Juris Doctor degree with highest honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Tulsa Law Journal and earned membership in the Order of the Curule Chair.
Ms. Victoria Holland
Ms. Holland is an attorney at Devol and Associates, where she primarily focuses on Tribal law. Prior to attending law school at the University of Oklahoma, Ms. Holland worked for her Tribe, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. It was there that she discovered her passion for helping Tribes and Tribal citizens.
Her practice includes working on Tribal and non-Tribal business development, prosecutions on behalf of Tribal governments, contract review and negotiation, code drafting, gaming matters, and litigation matters. She works closely with Tribal Indian Child Welfare Departments and assists in both state and Tribal court matters regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Ms. Holland is admitted to practice in the Eastern and Western Federal District Courts of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Courts, and various Tribal courts.
Mr. Wayne Garnons-Williams
(moderator)
Wayne is the founding President of the International Inter-tribal Trade Organization (IITIO). He is Senior Lawyer and Principal Director of Garwill Law Professional Corporation. He also leads the Indigenous Sovereign Trade Consultancy Ltd., specializing in Tribal Trade and Sustainable Economic Development.
Past Chair of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Appeal Tribunal, Wayne is a member of the boards of directors of both the International Council of the Great Lakes Region and Capacity Canada.
The 2018 Fellow specializing in International Comparative Indigenous Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Wayne is also appointed by Order in Council as a member to the NAFTA (USMCA) Chapter 19 Trade Remedies roster.
Wayne is the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business 2019 Award winner for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations, and the 2020 Queens University alumni award winner. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Legal Specialist in Peace, Justice and Governance Award from the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law.
Wayne is Plains Cree from Treaty 6, Moosomin First Nation.
