This year’s symposium begins at 7 p.m. on April 2 with a keynote address by Brendan Johnson, United States Attorney for the State of South Dakota. Additional activities include panel discussions on the specific topics of the implementation of the recent federal Tribal Law & Order Act; specific issues and efforts involving the protection of women in Indian Country and finally; and Tribal and State relations regarding public safety.

Several experts are scheduled to attend and contribute at this year's symposium: Derrick Beetso, counselor to the Secretary of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs; Captain Yuma House, Bureau of Indian Affairs Police - Lower Brule and Elishia Stewart, supervisor for the battered women’s shelter on the Tulalip Reservation in Washington state. In addition an accomplished set of USD Law alumni will participate, including Dani Daugherty, BIA Deputy Regional Director for Indian Services in Aberdeen; Janet Routzen, executive director, White Buffalo Calf Women Society from the Rosebud Reservation; and JR LaPlante, South Dakota Secretary for Tribal Relations. Helping to lead these events will be USD Law’s own nationally-recognized Indian Law professor, scholar and Tribal appellate court judge Frank Pommersheim.

A schedule of events is available at https://www.usd.edu/law. Panels on April 3 are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m. with a final session at 9 a.m. on April 4.

This year’s Symposium is dedicated in the memory of USD Law Alumnus Jennifer J. Fyten “Duta Winyan” (1964-2013) Flandreau Santee Sioux. The late Ms. Fyent’s dedication to Indian peoples will be honored. As is this Symposium’s tradition, a commissioned art piece to commemorate these events is being produced by artist Jon Mark Tiger (Creek) from Eufaula, Okla. These events will also be acknowledged by honoring songs performed by local singers.

Press Contact
Hanna DeLange
Contact Email usdnews@usd.edu
Contact Website website

You May Also Like