Join the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters this winter and spring for Roots of Democracy, a series of four online discussions that explore the cultural and philosophical roots of American democracy, from the democratic experiment in ancient Greece to the influence of Indigenous governing systems. This series will take a particularly close look at several traditions of Indigenous governance and the fundamental conflicts that challenge the relationships between First Nations and the U.S. government. UW Law Professor Richard Monette (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) and UW Law School Alumna Rebecca Webster are two of the featured panelists.
- Turtle Island Confederacies: Relationships and Balance
February 11, 6:00-7:30 pm (CST)
The Three Fires Confederacy of the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy have been models of participatory democracy for many generations. What are the relationships that support these systems, and how do they guide decision-making? What were the conditions that gave rise to these two confederacies?
>> Register to receive the link to this virtual presentation on Zoom
- Post-Contact Indigenous Governance
March 25, 6:00-7:30 pm (CST)
Native systems of governance have faced intense challenges since European explorers first landed on these shores. While the founding fathers took inspiration from Indigenous governments, the relationship between First Nations and the U.S. government has been defined by fundamental conflicts over sovereignty, territory, citizenship, and individual rights. How have Indigenous governments responded to these challenges? What obstacles to full sovereignty still remain in place?
>> Register to receive the link to this virtual presentation on Zoom