Arguing with tradition : the language of law in Hopi Tribal court / Justin B. Richland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Richland, Justin B. (Justin Blake), 1970-

Series:

Chicago series in law and society

The Chicago series in law and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hopi Indians--Legal status, laws, etc.

Hopi Indians.

Hopi law--Arizona.

Hopi law.

Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Indian courts--United States.

Indian courts.

United States.

Indians of North America--Arizona.

Indians of North America.

Arizona.

Physical Description:

xii, 187 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2008.

Summary:

Arguing with Tradition is the first book to explore language and interaction within a contemporary Native American legal system. Grounded in Justin Richland's extensive field research on the Hopi Indian Nation of northeastern Arizona-on whose appellate court he now serves as Justice Pro Tempore-this innovative work explains how Hopi notions of tradition and culture shape and are shaped by the processes of Hopi jurisprudence.

Like many indigenous legal institutions across North America, the Hopi Tribal Court was created in the image of Anglo-American-style law. But Richland shows that in recent years, Hopi jurists and litigants have called for their courts to develop a jurisprudence that better reflects Hopi culture and traditions. Providing unprecedented insights into the Hopi and English courtroom interactions through which this conflict plays out, Richland argues that tensions between the language of Anglo-style law and Hopi tradition both drive Hopi jurisprudence and make it unique. Ultimately, Richland's analyses of the language of Hopi law offer a fresh approach to the cultural politics that influence indigenous legal and governmental practices worldwide.

Contents:

Arguing with tradition in Native America

Making a Hopi Nation : "Anglo" law comes to Hopi country

"What are you going to do with the village's knowledge?" : language ideologies and legal power in Hopi tribal court

"He could not speak Hopi. . . . that puzzle puzzled me" : the pragmatic paradoxes of Hopi tradition in court

Suffering into truth : Hopi law as narrative interaction.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 167-178) and index.

ISBN:

9780226712932

0226712931

9780226712956

0226712958

OCLC:

176978800

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description