Indigenous Sovereignty and the Declaration: Rethinking 1776 in a Jesuit Context

On Friday, October 2, 2026, Fairfield University will host a one-day conference titled Indigenous Sovereignty and the Declaration: Revisiting 1776 in a Jesuit Context.

The event is supported by a Humanities Institute Program Grant (with additional support from the Department of Philosophy, the Department of English, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the Indigeneity Initiative under the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging).  The event is organized in collaboration with the Yale Group for the Study of Native America and the NYU–Yale American Indian Sovereignty Project.

Scheduled for the week preceding Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the conference is designed to contribute meaningfully to teaching and reflection around that occasion.

The conference brings together a distinguished group of scholars and community voices.  Confirmed speakers include Ned Blackhawk (Yale University), Sarah Pearsall (Johns Hopkins University), Scott Pratt (University of Oregon), Sandy Grande (University of Connecticut), John Mikhail (Georgetown University), Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel and Susan Meehan (Mohegan Council of Elders).  Additional speakers will be announced.  The program will also feature a screening of the short film Up and Down the River, followed by discussion.

Across panels and presentations, the conference will examine how Indigenous political thought, diplomacy, and historical experience reshape our understanding of 1776 and its legacies.  It will be especially relevant for courses in the humanities, social sciences, law, and related fields, while remaining accessible to students across the University.

Faculty are encouraged to include this event in Fall 2026 syllabi and to consider integrating it into their courses (e.g., as a required or recommended co-curricular activity).  Additional details, including the full schedule and registration information, will be shared at the start of the semester.