Human Rights Commission to host presentation on Indigenous Peoples’ rights as part of Native American Heritage Month
11/14/2023
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The community is invited to attend a free presentation titled “Rights Protection in Indian Country” from Professor Emeritus Lindsay Robertson of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
The presentation, which is open to the public, is part of Oklahoma City’s Human Rights Commission’s November meeting. It will be held at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the City Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave. It will also be streamed on the City’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/cityofokc.
“We are excited to invite you to attend the Human Rights Commission meeting on Nov. 28,” Human Rights Commission Chair Valerie Couch said. “Professor Robertson is an internationally recognized scholar, respected advisor and beloved university professor. He will contribute greatly to our understanding of the sovereignty of tribal nations and how both the collective and individual rights of people in our community affect our capacity to thrive in a just society.”
Professor Robertson holds the Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. For over 25 years, he has taught courses in the history of federal Indian law and policy, constitutional law, international indigenous peoples’ law, and criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country.
He serves as a justice on the Supreme Court of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He serves on the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors and the National Park System Advisory Board.
Engaged on an international level, Professor Robertson has served as an advisor to the Working Groups on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. His outstanding teaching and global contributions to the advancement of human rights are widely recognized.
For more information, contact the Office of Inclusion and Diversity at hrc@okc.gov.
About Native American Heritage Month
National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. The Bureau of Indian Affairs describes the month as “a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.”
Tracing its origins to 1916 commemorating “American Indian Day” in New York State, President George H. W. Bush signed into law a joint resolution designating the month of November as the first National Native American Heritage Month in 1990. Introduced by Senator Daniel K. Inouye (Native Hawaiian) and Congressional Delegate Eni Faloemavaega (Samoan), the joint resolution commends the immense contributions of Native Americans to our Nation.
About Oklahoma City’s Human Rights Commission
The Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission meets every other month and is responsible for addressing alleged harm to people who have been discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, age, familial status, genetic information, or disability related to employment, housing, and public accommodations as provided by Oklahoma laws regarding discrimination.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov
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City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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