Bergeron's talk will explore the "Land Back" movement by considering the Onondaga Nation's ongoing efforts for sovereignty and self-determination in central New York. Focusing on the Nation's 2005 land rights action and ongoing efforts to reclaim and care for Onondaga Lake—a sacred and heavily polluted site—this presentation examines the historical dispossession of Onondaga territory, the limitations of U.S. legal frameworks, and the Nation's recent grant of 1000 acres from the State. The talk situates the Onondaga case within the broader context of land justice and argues that "Land Back" is a path towards sovereignty and environmental justice.
 

Emily Bergeron, JD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Historic Preservation at the University of Kentucky. She is affiliate faculty with both the Center for Equality and Social Justice and the program in Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Her legal scholarship and professional service center on advancing equity, access, and justice at the intersections of historic preservation, environmental and cultural resource law, sustainability, Indigenous rights, and environmental justice. Dr. Bergeron’s work has appeared in publications such as Human Rights, Natural Resources & Environment, and The Environmental Forum. She is also a contributing author and editor for several books, including the forthcoming Environmental Law Horror Stories. She serves on the editorial boards of Human Rights and Preservation Education & Research, holds leadership roles within the American Bar Association on committees dedicated to civil rights and social justice, and serves on the board of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation.