American Indians & Int’l Law 902-2I

Europeans used international law in North America from the beginning of their explorations and settlements on this continent. They used the Doctrine of Discovery to claim for themselves many of the sovereign, diplomatic, commercial and human rights of native
peoples. The Doctrine still applies to American Indians and Indian Nations today. In addition, international law is starting to be applied to American Indians, including the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that was adopted by the UN General
Assembly on September 13, 2007. Some American Indians and tribal governments are also beginning to look to the Organization of American States as an alternate venue to pursue claims against the United States. We will address these issues and more in this class.

The American Bar Association accreditation standards require students to regularly attend the courses in which they are registered. Lewis & Clark expects students to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Specific attendance requirements may vary from course to course. Any attendance guidelines for a given class must be provided to students in a syllabus or other written document at the start of the semester. Sanctions (e.g., required withdrawal from the course, grade adjustment, and/or a failing grade) will be imposed for poor attendance.