The idea of sovereignty includes the right of a nation or a people to decide who might be a part of its community and how that community creates, changes, and enforces its membership.

As tribal nations continue to expand and experiment with their own sovereignty, key questions about enrollment, membership, and growth have begun to emerge. How does tribal enrollment, for example, intersect with the idea of sovereignty and how does this question shape the future of the nations both large and small?

To explore these complicated questions, the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities will host a roundtable discussion featuring experts from several different tribal nations that are grappling now with these thorny issues.

Moderated by Wilson Pipestem (Otoe-Missouri), this event will feature a wide-ranging discussion featuring Norbert Hill Jr. (Oneida), Lance Kelley (Creek, Cherokee, Shoshone-Paiute), Jim Gray (Osage), and Jennifer Hill Kelley (Oneida, Kiowa, Comanche).

This conversation grows from the new book, “Beyond Blood Quantum: Refusal to Disappear”, which features many native authors, academics, and tribal leaders. Event will conclude with an audience Q&A.

As always, this OCH event is free and open to all