Noted American Indian law
expert speaks at University
Charles Wilkinson, author
of a new book discussing
American Indian issues,
visited campus Thursday
By Reese Lee
Freelance Reporter
Charles Wilkinson, a noted Ameri
can Indian law expert, gave a speech
on his new book, "Blood Struggle:
The Rise of the Modern Indian Na
tions" at the Knight Law Center
Thursday night. His lecture touched
on issues such as efforts by American
Indians to regain land that formerly
belonged to them.
The lecture began with an introduc
tion by University President Dave
Frohnmayer. He welcomed American
Indians as well as audience members
and introduced Wilkinson to the au
dience as a man "with passion that is
admirable and intellectual heroism
that is stunning."
Wilkinson, a former University
School of Law professor, encouraged
audience members to continue in the
fight of the American Indian for tribal
sovereignty and land rights. He dedi
cated his lecture to the "Indians with
us here." He also spoke on cultural
oppression and economic problems.
Wilkinson became involved in the
Native American Rights Fund as a
lawyer in Denver nearly 30 years ago.
He said he has been "captivated by
Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
Charles Wilkinson, an expert in American Indian law, visited campus Thursday night
to discuss his new book, “Blood Struggle: The Rise of the Modern Indian Nations.”
these people," and he has visited more
them 100 American Indian reservations.
Wilkinson said Indian culture, such
as some native dance, has been op
pressed by churches, an act he com
pared to "outlawingreligion."
First-year law student Rachel Kas
tenberg said she attended the talk be
cause she was "interested in Native
American issues, how it's connected
to environmental problems and min
ing on tribal lands."
Wilkinson read passages from inter
views with American Indians. He
showed the struggles American Indians
have gone through and efforts they
have made and are currently making to
fight back to regain their land, replant
trees and revive their religion.
"Drums were played on the Oregon
coast, which had not been heard there
for 40 years," Wilkinson said about
the rise in Native American traditions.
"(Wilkinson) has been very instru
mental in getting restoration (of our
land) back in 1986," said Taylor
David, public information officer for
Klamath Tribes, of the termination of
the original Klamath tribe in 1954.
"We are now in the process of regain
ing federal land."
In a press release for the event,
Wilkinson said the highlights of his
book include a discussion of treaties
and the hard work of tribal leaders to
make sure treaties are honored.
"In this book, I recount tribal victo
ries in major conflicts in contempo
rary America," he said. "The modern
tribal sovereignty movement deserves
to be spoken of in the same breath as
the civil rights, environmental and
women's movements."
Wilkinson's book will be published
by W.W. Norton next year.
Reese Lee is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
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