The Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center (GLILC) at University of Wisconsin Law School presents the Native November Law Series, an exploration of “Indigenous Leadership in Modern Governance.” Throughout the month of November, GLILC will host a set of discussions highlighting Indigenous perspectives on leadership, governance, law and sovereignty.

Each session has been approved for one continuing legal education (CLE) credit by the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners (BBE).

“By showing how Indigenous knowledge shapes legal solutions, the second annual symposium reflects the Center’s mission and highlights our school’s commitment to public service, legal innovation and community,” explained Amanda White Eagle, GLILC director.

GLILC was established in 1992 to improve the practical legal skills of all students interested in the fields of Indigenous law, including federal Indian and tribal law. The center serves as a legal resource for Native Nations, including the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. The initiatives and programs sponsored by the center connect UW Law School’s commitment to law in action with Native Nations and tribal communities across the state. 

Register for an event or the entire series.

Series Events

Sovereignty on the Line: The Tohono O’odham Sovereign Defense of Homelands Along the Border

Thursday, Nov. 5 | 12 p.m. | Room 2260, Law School

This discussion will dive into the interplay between strategic legal litigation and day-to-day tribal governance in building robust defenses of Indigenous sovereignty. It will also examine the tribal legislative process — how decision-making uniquely integrates formal tribal laws alongside deeply rooted cultural customs and traditional values. 

Sovereignty in Flux: The Lumbee Tribe, Federal Recognition and Modern Indigenous Governance

Friday, Nov. 6 | 12 p.m. | Room 7200, Law School

This session will cover the meanings of sovereignty and governance in the context of Lumbee legal history, exploring how the Lumbee people have demonstrated their sovereignty and self-governance in the face of challenges by the United States throughout history. In light of the passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act in 2025, Lumbee history exemplifies sovereignty in modern Indigenous governance.

Tales From the Bench: A discussion With Judge Sarah Wheelock

Thursday, Nov. 12 | 12 p.m. | Room 3260, Law School

Judge Sarah Wheelock will offer candid reflections from her first five years as a jurist for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She will share her path to the bench and discuss how a federal Indian law and tribal law practice prepared her for the work of an intermediate appellate court. She will also discuss how her identity as a Meskwaki Nation tribal member informs her work and public engagement. As the first Native person to serve on Minnesota’s Court of Appeals, she will highlight the distinct challenges she faces as a “first” and how she navigates those challenges.

Just a Girl From Federal Dam: Pathways to Leadership

Friday, Nov. 13 | 12 p.m. | Room 2260, Law School

Justice Anne McKeig will talk about her upbringing on the Leech Lake Reservation in Federal Dam, Minnesota, along with her family history, educational background and work experience in the legal sector as a former prosecutor, family law judge and her current role as associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Restorative Justice and Indigenous Peacemaking in Modern Courts

Thursday, Nov. 19 | 12 p.m. | Room 2260, Law School

Grounded in centuries-old Indigenous traditions and relational justice frameworks, peacemaking offers a transformative alternative to traditional litigation. This panel discussion explores the core principles of Indigenous peacemaking, how tribal courts operate restorative practices and how these models may be integrated into court systems across the country.

Harvesting Power: Modernized Tribal Energy Sovereignty         

Friday, Nov. 20 | 12 p.m. | Room 7200, Law School

True governance requires control over the essential resources that sustain a community. In this panel, energy professionals explore how modern Indigenous governance intersects with energy — focusing on harvesting power from natural resources. Learn about the movement toward clean energy independence.

See the topics covered in 2025’s symposium.

Submitted by Law School News on October 28, 2026

This article appears in the categories: Features, In the Media

Related employee profiles: Amanda White Eagle