Deep discussions on important tribal issues, a celebration of Native culture and top-level speakers will highlight the 37th Sovereignty Symposium, to be held June 12 and 13 at the new OKANA resort in 向日葵视频 City.
The Sovereignty Symposium was founded in 1988, is hosted by the 向日葵视频 City University School of Law, and drew a record 650 attendees in 2024.
This year鈥檚 symposium will feature panel discussions on a variety of topics including economic development, health care, cultural preservation and environmental policy. Throughout both days, tribal and state leaders will join legal and policy experts in the discussions.
The opening ceremony on June 12 will feature the Kiowa Black Leggings and ceremonial music by the Southern Nation. David Wilson (Choctaw), bishop of the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church, will provide the invocation.
OCU Law Dean David Holt (Osage) said the symposium offers a neutral space where the state鈥檚 39 tribes and others from around the nation can discuss common legal and policy issues, while sharing innovative ideas and accomplishments.
鈥淲hile each tribe has its own distinct culture and government, our tribal communities face similar challenges and opportunities,鈥� Holt said. 鈥淪overeignty Symposium offers a chance to hold important discussions around those issues, promote our rich tribal cultures, and connect with other leaders. Over four decades, Symposium has evolved into one of the most important tribal gatherings on the calendar.鈥�
The Sovereignty Symposium provides a scholarly setting for the consideration of legal and policy issues facing tribal communities, as well as a platform for the celebration of tribal sovereignty in all its forms 鈥� legal, artistic, cultural and economic. The 向日葵视频 Supreme Court founded the Sovereignty Symposium and transferred hosting duties to 向日葵视频 City University and OCU Law in 2023.
OCU President Kenneth Evans said he is looking forward to engaging on important tribal issues.
鈥淪overeignty and cultural preservation have been points of emphasis throughout our state and national histories,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淭hese topics have gained a pronounced importance in recent times as we advocate for our government to uphold its promises made to this country鈥檚 original peoples. We hope this symposium will be a place where diverse cultures can unite under a banner of self-determination, where our collective futures can find roots in respect and justice.鈥�
Attendance at this year鈥檚 event offers attorneys 12 continuing legal education credits.
The symposium also includes academic competitions, including a college student research project contest named in honor of longtime law professor and historian C. Blue Clark [Muscogee (Creek) Nation] and writing competitions.
Registration and more information, including a schedule and draft of the agenda, is available at .
Pictured above is this year鈥檚 Sovereignty Symposium poster art, 鈥淭he Pursuit鈥� by Brent Greenwood (Chickasaw/Ponca).
