Law Commons^™

Bringing History Home: Strategies For The International Repatriation Of Native American Cultural Property, Alec Johnson

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

The theft of Native American cultural items has been ongoing since Europeans began to colonize the Americas. As a result, millions of Native American artifacts are now located outside the borders of the United States. Native American tribes have long sought international repatriation—the return of these cultural objects to their tribal owners. Unfortunately, many countries have been unsupportive of repatriation attempts and Native Americans seeking the return of their cultural items face nearly insurmountable barriers in foreign courts. The U.S. government has a moral imperative to assist Native American tribes in these repatriation efforts. The debate over repatriation is defined …

Human Rights At The Ocean-Climate Nexus: Opening Doors For The Participation Of Indigenous Peoples, Children And Youth, And Gender Diversity, Unwana Udo, Tahnee Prior, Sara L. Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

No abstract provided.

Nature's Rights, Christiana Ochoa

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Do forests and rivers possess standing to sue? Do mountain ranges have substantive rights? A recent issue of The Judges’ Journal, a preeminent publication for American judges, alerts the bench, bar, and policymakers to the rapidly emerging “rights of nature,” predicting that state and federal courts will increasingly see claims asserting such rights. Within the United States, Tribal law has begun to legally recognize the rights of rivers, mountains, and other natural features. Several municipalities across the United States have also acted to recognize the rights of nature. United States courts have not yet addressed the issue, though in 2017, …

A Human Right To Self-Government Over First Nation Child And Family Services And Beyond: Implications Of The Caring Society Case, Naiomi Metallic

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

English Abstract

On January 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) released a watershed decision in a complaint spearheaded by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, headed by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, and the Assembly of First Nations (the “Caring Society” decision). The complaint alleged that Canada, through its Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (“INAC” or the “Department”), discriminates against First Nations children and families in the provision of child welfare services on reserve. In its decision, the Tribunal found that INAC’s design, management and control of child welfare services on reserve, along with …

A Human Right To Self-Government Over First Nation Child And Family Services And Beyond: Implications Of The Caring Society Case, Naiomi Metallic

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

On January 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) released a watershed decision in a complaint spearheaded by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, headed by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, and the Assembly of First Nations (the “Caring Society” decision). The complaint alleged that Canada, through its Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (“INAC” or the “Department”), discriminates against First Nations children and families in the provision of child welfare services on reserve. In its decision, the Tribunal found that INAC’s design, management and control of child welfare services on reserve, along with its funding …

The Role Of The State, Multinational Oil Companies, International Law & The International Community: Intersection Of Human Rights & Environmental Degradation Climate Change In The 21st Century Caused By Traditional Extractive Practices, The Amazon Rainforest, Indigenous People And Universal Jurisdiction To Resolve The Accountability Issue, Marcela Cabrera Luna

Master's Theses

Local, national and international conventions that protect indigenous sovereignty and their territories, where many of the resources are extracted from by multinational corporations (MNCs) particularly oil, the number one commodity of the world and cause of climate change, continue to be jeopardized because of the lack of a clear international legal framework that can protect them and potentially hold multinationals accountable for their actions. These practices are causing not only environmental issues to the indigenous and surrounding communities, but climate change is in fact, the real human rights issue of the 21^st century and it affects everyone. By using …

Extracting More Than Resources: Human Security And Arctic Indigenous Women, Victoria Sweet

Seattle University Law Review

The circumpolar Arctic region is at the forefront of rapid change, and with change come potential threats to human security. Numerous factors determine what makes a state, a community, or an individual feel secure. For example, extractive industry development can bring economic benefits to an area, but these development projects also bring security concerns, including potential human rights violations. While security concerns connected with development projects have been studied in southern hemisphere countries and countries classified as “developing,” concerns connected with extractive industry development projects in “developed” countries like the United States have received little attention. This Article will change …

"El Agua No Se Vende: Water Is Not For Sale!" The Latin American Water Tribunal As A Model For Advancing Access To Water, Mikita A. Weaver

Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal

At the international level, water is now understood to be a basic human right. However, conflict continues to intensify surrounding indigenous people's access to water as the resource becomes scarcer. In particular, this paper will examine the struggle of indigenous people in Latin America and the creation of the Latin American Water Tribunal (LAWT) as a solution. Section II will describe the LAWT, including the formation of the tribunal, case selection, and the structure of the public hearing. Section III will discuss both how the LAWT overcomes problems with the current legal system and the success of the tribunal as …

Tribes As Essential Partners In Achieving Sustainable Governance, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Indigenous peoples have modeled sustainable development around the world. Incentivizing the innovation and instillation of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources can come in the form of public funding, including renewable portfolio standards, feed in tariffs and green tag programs. This article analyzes ways in which tribal communities are helping to expand cooperative good governance.

Divided We Stand: The Haudenosaunee, Their Passport And Legal Implications Of Their Recognition In Canada And The United States, Nicole Terese Capton Marques

San Diego International Law Journal

There are several indigenous nations divided by the international border between the U.S. and Canada (hereinafter, border tribes). Part II will provide historical background on the Haudenosaunee and the Haudenosaunee passport, as well as on the Jay Treaty's free passage right as recognition that the international border was not to affect border tribes. Part III of this comment will examine the trust-like duty both federal governments owe to indigenous populations in general, briefly describe benefits and services offered, and then discuss the legal effects of current legislation and regulations by the American and Canadian governments on Haudenosaunee tribal members living …

Towards Accountability For Mass Crimes: A Report Of The Indian Campaign On International Criminal Court 2000-2007, Saumya Uma, Pouruchisti Wadia

Saumya Uma

This contains a detailed narrative on the activities undertaken by ICC-India - an anti-impunity campaign on mass crimes and international law, from 2000 to 2007. The publication elaborates the work of the campaign on information dissemination, campaign and advocacy, research and publication, alliance-building and media outreach. It includes 16 pages of colour photographs, as well as illustrations in the form of graphs, tables and maps. Published by Women's Research & Action Group, 2008, English, 90 pages.

The Supreme Court Speaks: Judgments On Muslim Law & Women's Rights, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

The book contains a compilation of pro-women judgments by the Supreme Court on issues pertaining to Muslim family law. The book is divided into 3 parts – marriage, matrimonial remedies and property / economic rights of women. It explains 18 judgments in a simple language, each a landmark on an issue, and also contains a brief analysis of the impact and usefulness of the judgment for furthering women’s rights.

Antarrashtriya Dand Nyayalaya Aur Bharat: Kuch Sawaal-Jawaab, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This is the Hindi translation of the publication 'International Criminal Court & India: Some Questions & Answers'

Danda Mukti Ko Virodh, Vahida Nainar, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This is a Hindi translation of the English publication 'Combating Impunity'

Indigenous Self-Determination And Research On Human Genetic Material: A Consideration Of The Relevance Of Debates On Patents And Informed Consent, And The Political Demands On Researchers, Constance Macintosh

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Genetic research involving indigenous populations provokes many legal, ethical and cultural issues. Arguably, of these issues, two dominate the literature. The first is whether human genetic materials are or ought to be patentable, which is often argued against on the basis that such patents offend human dignity generally and are culturally offensive to many indigenous peoples. The second is whether researchers must obtain informed consent from representatives of indigenous groups as a whole before attempting to obtain consent for participation from individual members of that group. I argue that there is limited benefit in continuing to debate the patentability of …

Report Of The 1st National Consultation On International Criminal Court & India, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This publication contains a detailed report of each session of the 1st National Consultation on the ICC & India, held in Delhi on 8-9 December 2005.

International Criminal Court & India: Responses To Queries Raised By Parliamentarians, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This is a pocket-book consisting of queries raised by Parliamentarians at the first consultative meeting organized by ICC-India campaign / Women's Research & Action Group on the International Criminal Court (ICC), in August 2005, and written responses to the same. It is aimed at strengthening the information dissemination efforts on ICC with Indian Parliamentarians.

International Criminal Court & India: Some Questions & Answers, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This book was an outcome of an attempt to fill the “information gap” presently faced in making the ICC meaningful to civil society in India. It is based on questions that are frequently raised during workshops that the ICC-India campaign has conducted in various parts of the country. The contents of the book are in the form of questions and answers, and the book explains complex issues in a simple language. The publication is specially intended for Indian human rights organizations, activists and legal professionals engaged in campaigns on law and policy reform issues on human rights. This publication forms …

Intimidated Victims & Witnesses: Treated With Hostility, Saumya Uma

Saumya Uma

This article advances the need for an Indian legal regime for protecting the interests of victims and witnesses. It draws from international standards and experiences of other countries, grounding the same in the contemporary Indian context.

Female Genital Excision And The Implications Of Federal Prohibition, Blake M. Guy

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

No abstract provided.