American Indian Natural
Resources is a growing, dynamic, exciting area of the
law, involving important resources. The field
includes transcendent issues, such as compensation
for or restoration of lost resources, as well as pragmatic
concerns, such as the ability to site or maintain major
facilities, the allocation of water supplies and pollution
control. The course begins with a brief introduction
to federal Indian law. Students will then examine
the unique contours of natural resource matters that
arise in Indian country, specifically focusing on: land,
environmental protection, natural resource development,
water rights and usufructuary rights, including hunting,
fishing and gathering. Upon the successful completion
of the course, students should have a good understanding
of the basic principles of federal Indian law and how
the development of natural resources in Indian country
may trigger different legal responses than would otherwise
be triggered elsewhere.
The course will be taught using a seminar format. A
student’s final grade will be based on in-class
participation and a research paper. Students
may complete the advanced writing requirement through
this course. |
