Under the theme of Rights, Responsibilities, and Resilience: An International Discourse on Indigenous Peoples’ Jurisprudence, the 2016 World Indigenous Law Conference took place at the Beckman Center in the traditional territories of the Tongva and Acjachemen Peoples (Irvine, CA, U.S.A.). The Indigenous Law Conference takes place every two years; the first took place in Aotearoa/New Zealand, the second in Australia and the third, this year, in Irvine. The conference was organized by the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples and was attended by some 250 people from around the world.
Columbia University was represented by Prof. Elsa Stamatopoulou, director of the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Program.
Topics focused on:
Rights of Mother Earth – Natural Law, Environment and Climate Change Treaties, Conventions, International Instruments and Mechanisms Doctrine of Discovery, Terra Nullius, and Aqua Nullius
Traditional Knowledge & Intellectual Property Rights
Tribal Jurisdictions & Territorial Integrity Inherent Sovereign Rights
Human Rights
Relationship to Lands and Territories
Indigenous Child Welfare and Well-being Violence Against Indigenous Women & Children
Click here for the full agenda.
Pictured: Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation
