James (Sákéj) Youngblood Henderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James (Sákéj) Youngblood Henderson
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Professor James (Sákéj) Youngblood Henderson in January 2017
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| Born | December 20, 1944 Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Nationality | Chickasaw Nation, American |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School (Juris doctor) |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Battiste |
James (Sakej) Youngblood Henderson (born December 20, 1944) is an American lawyer and teacher. He is known for working to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. He has helped many groups and governments understand and respect Indigenous laws and cultures.
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Early Life and Goals
James Youngblood Henderson was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on December 20, 1944. He is part Chickasaw and also has Cheyenne family roots. Growing up, he saw how hard life could be for many people. This made him want to help end hardship for all Indigenous peoples. He made this a main goal for his life.
Education and Family
When he was a college student, James was a leader in the American National Indian Youth Council. This group worked for the rights of Native Americans. He saw how the Civil Rights Movement helped people. He thought a similar movement could help Indigenous people too.
He later went to Harvard Law School. In 1974, he earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor. He was one of the first Native Americans to get this degree from Harvard.
James married Mi'kmaq educator Marie Battiste. Together, they have a son, Jaime Battiste, who is a Member of Parliament in Canada.
Working for Indigenous Rights
After law school, James Henderson started working to protect Indigenous rights. One of his first big cases helped his father's family get back some important legal rights. Since then, he has worked to protect Indigenous history and culture through legal actions.
He has worked with:
- The Canadian government
- The Mi'kmaq Nation
- The United Nations
- Other First Nation governments
James also taught law at many universities. These include Stanford University, Berkeley, and Harvard University.
In 1978, he moved to Canada. His wife, Marie Battiste, was asked to start a special education program in Nova Scotia. James then began helping the Mi'kmaw Nation with their land claims and legal issues. He also advised the Assembly of First Nations on important legal matters in Canada.
He helped create many legal papers and books. These works protect Indigenous heritage, culture, and legal rights. One very important document he helped with is the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This declaration helps protect the rights of Indigenous people all over the world.
Today, James Henderson works in Canada. He is a professor of Indigenous law at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. He also directs research at the Native Law Centre there.
Awards and Special Recognitions
James Henderson has received many awards for his work. These awards recognize his skill in international law and his strong dedication to justice for Indigenous peoples.
Some of his awards include:
- An Indigenous People's Council award in 2005.
- A National Aboriginal Achievement Award (now called the Indspire Award) for Law and Justice in 2006.
- An Honorary Doctorate of Law from Carleton University in 2007.
- He was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2013. This is a very high honor for Canadian scholars.
Selected Writings
James Henderson has written many important books and articles about Indigenous law. Here are a few:
- Indian Statehood Reconsidered (1974)
- The Road: Indian Tribes and Political Liberty (1982)
- First Nations' Legal Inheritance (1991)
- The Míkmaw Concordat (1997)
- Treaty Rights in the Constitution of Canada (2007)
