Please note this event is in-person only.

The KU Office of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging will host a Tribal Sovereignty Speaker Series over the month of November in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

Kicking off the series on Wednesday, November 8th, will be the Chairman, Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Mayetta, KS. Chairman Rupnick will discuss tribal sovereignty from a governance perspective with his presentation “Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribal Governance – Indian Self-Rule." Rupnick has led the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in the role of Tribal Council Chairman as part of the elected seven-member governing body of the Nation since 2022 and will continue through 2026.  

Tribal sovereignty is an important facet of understanding the unique political status of tribal nations and their citizens. The series is designed to feature tribal leaders and legal experts in Tribal Sovereignty to examine the multi-layered aspects of tribal sovereignty in practice. Participants will gain a greater understanding of how tribal sovereignty impacts the experience of tribal citizens and research within the KU community.