Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - More than five hundred years after Columbus arrived in the "New World," Americans remain somewhat divided about the place of indigenous peoples in modern society. The question of whether or not tribes should enjoy sovereignty is one of our most contested legal battlefields. Should Native Americans on reservations be exempt from state and federal laws, including environmental policies? Can Indian peoples and tribal casinos declare themselves free of state and federal taxes? How do we balance constitutional rights with treaty obligations?

These questions will form the basis of a debate between former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Director Kevin Gover and Tom Gede, Executive Director of the Conference of Western Attorneys General.

The debate will be held Monday, September 10, 2001 at 7:30 pm before a live audience at the Continuing Education Conference Center (1634 University Boulevard, NE) in Albuquerque.

Justice Talking is a weekly National Public Radio (NPR) program on constitutional issues, hosted by Margot Adler and produced by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania. Justice Talking is broadcast on public radio stations nationwide and on the Internet. Visit justicetalking.org.

This debate, Nations Within: The Conflict of Native American Sovereignty is co-sponsored by KUNM Radio (89.9FM), and the University of New Mexico School of Law. It will air on public radio stations across the US this fall. The event is free and open to the public, which will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

For more information contact, Julie Drizin, Senior Producer of Justice Talking, by phone: 202-879-6759 or send e-mail to: Jdrizin@appcpenn.org.