In the Nov. 9 lecture, Tsosie discussed the history and contemporary expression of Native sovereignty and the way that race and nationality intersect with that political status. On a global scale, the discussion had relevance to race relations within the United States, as well as a context for pluralism that can enrich international relations.
The lecture was a part of the Provost's Conversations on Diversity, Democracy, and Higher Education. Established in 2003, the Conversations were designed to promote University-wide awareness of and dialogue on our nation's most important issues. They bring prominent scholars, writers and activists from across the country and around the globe to address topics related to various issues of diversity, democracy and higher education.
The theme for this year's lecture series is "pushing boundaries."
The event was co-sponsored by the American Indian Student Union, the American Studies Departmentm, the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education and the Stamp-Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy Office.
Tsosie teaches in the areas of Indian law, Property, Bioethics, and Critical Race Theory, as well as seminars in International Indigenous Rights and in the College's Tribal Policy, Law, and Government Master of Laws program. She has written and published widely on doctrinal and theoretical issues related to tribal sovereignty, environmental policy and cultural rights, and is the author of many prominent articles dealing with cultural resources and cultural pluralism. She also is the co-author with Robert Clinton and Carole Goldberg of a federal Indian law casebook. Her current research deals with Native rights to genetic resources.
Tsosie, who is of Yaqui descent, has worked extensively with tribal governments and organizations and serves as a Supreme Court Justice for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.