By Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee411.com
A historic assembly of five Native American U.S. District Court judges will headline the 38th annual Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City this June, offering a rare examination of ethical leadership and the protection of tribal sovereignty through the federal bench.
Oklahoma City University School of Law is hosting the event under the theme “250 Years Later: Sovereignty, Survival, and Self-Determination” on June 15 and 16 at the OKANA Resort.
Cherokee411.com Co-Founders Deb Reed, J.D., and Cara Cowan Watts, Ph.D., will be attending the Sovereignty Symposium to cover the issues that matter most to Cherokee citizens and tribal communities across Indian Country.
The centerpiece of this year’s program is a keynote panel titled “Ethical Leadership: Honoring Sovereignty from the Bench,” bringing together five Native American federal judges to discuss the intersection of judicial ethics, leadership and tribal sovereignty. The panel will include:
- Honorable Sara E. Hill (Cherokee), U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of Oklahoma
- Honorable Ada Brown (Choctaw), U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of Texas
- Honorable Lauren King (Muscogee (Creek)), U.S. District Court Judge, Western District of Washington
- Honorable Diane J. Humetewa (Hopi), U.S. District Court Judge, District of Arizona
- Honorable Sunshine S. Sykes (Navajo), U.S. District Court Judge, Central District of California
“The Sovereignty Symposium was founded to bridge the gaps between tribal, state, and federal legal systems, and this year’s keynote embodies that mission perfectly,” said Emily Eleftherakis, executive director of OCU’s Tribal Sovereignty Institute. “By exploring ethical leadership through the lens of these distinguished jurists, we are offering attendees a rare glimpse into how sovereignty is not just debated, but also honored and upheld from the bench.”
The two-day symposium will also feature discussions between tribal leaders, state officials, legal experts, and policymakers on topics spanning economic development, health care, cultural preservation, environmental policy, self-determination, and jurisdictional challenges across Indian Country.
Founded in 1988 by Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger and hosted by OCU Law since 2023, the Sovereignty Symposium serves as a scholarly, non-adversarial forum for legal and policy issues facing tribal communities. Up to 14 hours of CLE credits are available, including 3.5 hours of ethics credit.
Registration, sponsorship opportunities, and event details are available at thesovereigntysymposium.com.
