Indigenous law center to hold inaugural symposium Nov. 10

Indigenous law center to hold inaugural symposium Nov. 10November 05, 2003Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

The Center for Indigenous Law, Governance and Citizenship in the College of Law will convene its inaugural symposium Nov. 10. “Going Home: A Symposium on the Return of Removed Indigenous Peoples,” will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center. The registration fee for the public event is $50. The symposium agenda and registration information are on the Web at http://www.law.syr.edu.

The symposium addresses the efforts of Indian nations to reclaim territory in New York. In the early 19th century, Cayuga, Oneida, Stockbridge-Munsee and other Indians were pressured by federal and state officials to leave New York and move west as part of the federal government’s “removal” policy.

These removed Indian nations are now seeking to reclaim a connection to their aboriginal territory by purchasing small parcels of land and starting new commercial ventures, including gaming. Occurring against the backdrop of three decades of land claims litigation, these efforts have generated considerable controversy among Indians and non-Indians in the Central New York area.

The symposium will be led by Robert Odawi Porter, professor of law and director of the Center for Indigenous Law, Governance and Citizenship. Other speakers include historians and legal scholars, as well as leaders of the Oneida Nation of the Thames (Ontario), the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Seneca-Tribe of Oklahoma, the Cayuga Nation of New York and representatives of state and local governments.