West Virginia University’s Native American Studies Program will host 2013 Elder-in-Residence Walter Echo-Hawk, an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma from March 29-April 5.

A renowned Native American rights attorney, activist, and author, Mr. Echo-Hawk’s work has helped bring about legal milestones such as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments in 1994 and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1990. He litigated in the epic struggles of many of America’s 566 federally recognized Indian nations. Most recently he was instrumental in helping the Klamath Tribe quantify hunting and fishing treaty rights and represented Tlingit tribes and clans of Southeast Alaska in repatriation and cultural patrimony.

On Wednesday, April 3, Mr. Echo-Hawk will present, “In the Courts of the Conqueror,” a lecture based on his 2010 book, In the Courts of the Conqueror: The Ten Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided. A welcoming reception takes place from 5-6 p.m. and includes music by ONAI Drum with art and research displays by Native American Studies students.

The lecture starts at 6 p.m. with opening remarks by Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bob Jones. A book signing hosted by the WVU College of Law bookstore will follow. All events are free and open to the public and take place in the Blue Ballroom of the WVU Mountainlair.

Echo-Hawk served as a Pawnee Nation Supreme Court Justice and was recently appointed Chief Justice of the Kickapoo Nation Supreme Court. His new book, In the Light of Justice: The Rise of Human Rights in Native America & the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is due out this summer. Echo-Hawk is co-teaching the WVU Spring 2013 seminar course “In the Courts of the Conqueror” with Native American Studies Coordinator Bonnie Brown.

Throughout his week in Morgantown Echo-Hawk will guest lecture in history, English, social work, and Native American Studies classes, meet with students and faculty, and provide a faculty and graduate student colloquium in the College of Education and Human Services, “American Indian Education in the Age of Tribal Self-Determination.”

Echo-Hawk’s residence is made possible through the Carolyn Reyer Visiting Lectureship Program for Native American Studies and is co-sponsored by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of History, and the Office of Diversity & Global Initiatives in the College of Education and Human Services.

For more information, check out the program online at http://www.nas.wvu.edu or on Facebook by searching “WVU Native American Studies Program” or contact Bonnie Brown, at 304-293-4626 or BonnieM.Brown.wvu.edu

-WVU-

bb/03/27/13

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