Situated in the heart of a state with the largest Native American population in the U.S., Oklahoma City University’s newly launched Tribal Sovereignty Institute stands at the forefront of a vital movement.
Housed within the Oklahoma City University (OCU) School of Law, this trailblazing institute is dedicated to reshaping the landscape of legal education and advocacy for Indigenous communities in Oklahoma. Its mission is to deepen the understanding and development of laws and policies that profoundly affect Native American rights and lives.
“We are going to be the only kind of institute in the state and region that is really focusing on tribal sovereignty issues, as well as a place for research and support for sovereignty,” Jennifer Stevenson, JD, assistant dean at OCU School of Law, said in a statement announcing the institute.
The formation of the institute was announced by OCU President Kenneth Evans, PhD, and OCU Law Dean and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, JD, in June at the 36th annual Sovereignty Symposium, hosted at the law school. The event drew nearly 600 attendees, including tribal and state leaders, and provided a platform to discuss legal and policy issues relevant to Oklahoma’s 39 Indigenous tribes and those in the broader region.
At the symposium, Evans expressed excitement about the expansion of OCU’s partnership with Native American communities, emphasizing the institute’s role in spotlighting the critical issue of tribal sovereignty, with the support and cooperation of the state’s tribes. Tribal leaders in attendance — including those from the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, and Osage Nation — lauded the institute for its potential as a valuable tool in the furtherance of Native American legal rights.
“Anytime people can be more knowledgeable about tribal sovereignty and as well as state law and how those come together and how we can unify and build better relationships and better law, that’s going to be the key to success,” Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said at the symposium.
OCU’s institute joins the work of several other similar sovereignty-focused centers at universities in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Minnesota.
The new institute will further education related to Native American legal issues for both current students and practicing attorneys. Aligned with other Oklahoma City University initiatives, the Tribal Sovereignty Institute will also extend its efforts beyond legal advocacy to include supporting cultural preservation, revitalizing Native languages, and promoting economic development within tribal communities.
OCU’s institute will be able to distinguish itself from other tribal law programs in the state, Holt said at the symposium, by leveraging the law school’s status as a private institution, allowing it to independently underwrite and promote sovereignty initiatives.
“Policymakers need more independent, credible information on this topic. All government entities, law firms, and tribes need attorneys who are knowledgeable in these areas,” Holt said. “We have an advantage that public schools don’t have. We can stand strongly for sovereignty, choosing where to invest our funding, because we are not owned by the state or any of the tribes.”
This unique position enables the institute to play a critical role in advancing the understanding and practice of tribal sovereignty, benefiting not only legal professionals but also lawmakers, tribal leaders, and the broader community.●
