April 6, 2021
This session was the second in a three-part series of study groups that sought to prepare campus for the “Why Treaties Matter” exhibit in fall 2021. These study groups were a first step in living out Carleton’s land acknowledgement through acts of honest storytelling.
Professor of Environmental Studies and Political Science Kim Smith led the second session, which focused on the legal status and effects of treaties in American law. The session explored the history of US treaty making with Native nations, how it changed over time, and how the courts have interpreted treaties over time. Small group discussions were interspersed with Professor Smith’s short lecture, where attendees discussed the lecture and selections from judicial decisions on treaties.
The session was co-sponsored by the Public Works Initiative, the Center for Community and Civic Engagement, Ethical Inquiry, the Learning and Teaching Center, and the Humanities Center.