language as property

[Mark Awakuni-Swetland]

18 June 2001
Aloha all:

My current dissertation research has raised an interesting issue about native language as property, intellectual property rights, and the like. 

I will conduct a literature review, but also wish to post the following inquiry to the LIST and see if others:  

a) have encountered similiar conditions not yet in the literature about attempts to legislate the following by tribal ordinance, or 
b) citations/directions to relevant articles concerning indigenous people who have claimed rights similar to:

"Whereas: the [_] tribe incorporates under tribal law the following decree: the [_] language is alive and dynamic, its use and authenticity must be protected as a language system in the 21st century, and

Whereas: The [_] tribe claims full and complete ownership of  [the __ language] and its compliments of words, phrases, language system and future words of the [_] people, and

Whereas: The [_] tribe shall require under this tribal law a copyright symbol of [_] after any use or practice of the [_] language"

Whereas: The [_] tribe shall require under this tribal law any non-Indian or non-enrolled indian member to submit in an approved application form permission to use the [_] language in part or any part thereof, before they use any portion or part of the [_] language for any purpose"

Many thanks
uthixide

Mark Awakuni-Swetland, Lecturer
Anthropology/Ethnic Studies-Native American Studies
c/o Department of Anthropology-Geography
University of Nebraska
Bessey Hall 132
Lincoln, NE 68588-0368
Office 402-472-3455
Dept. 402-472-2411
FAX 402-472-9642
mawakuni-swetland2 at unl.edu
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