of University of Colorado School of Law and the Getch’s Wilkinson Center mourn the deep loss of Charles Wilkinson, Moses Lasky Professor Emeritus of Law and Distinguished Professor at our esteemed institution. Wilkinson passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2023, surrounded by his family.
After graduating from Stanford Law School and working in prestigious offices in Phoenix and San Francisco, Wilkinson embarked on an impressive career that included teaching, writing, and advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment. In 1971 he joined the newly founded group. Native American Rights Fund As a staff attorney in Boulder, Colorado, he helped shape the organization’s unprecedented advocacy efforts against tribes. Wilkinson, along with the late Dean David Getch, Professor Richard Collins, and NARF Executive Director John Ekohawk, won a landmark tribal treaty rights litigation, establishing a relationship between Colorado law and the NARF that continues to this day. contributed.
Wilkinson is a passionate and inventive teacher and mentor who has educated and inspired thousands of students and colleagues in law schools across the country. As his colleagues and students attest, Wilkinson left an indelible mark not only on legal education and scholarship, but on those very qualities of the American West.
“Charles’ vast legacy touches every aspect of public lands, natural resources and American Indian law,” the professor recalled. Sarah Krakow. “He combined fierce advocacy with deep scholarship. He was a consistently generous, optimistic, kind, and open-minded friend and mentor to his many students and colleagues over the years, and, as Charles himself might have thought, “Damn it.” I will miss him, but I am so lucky to have known him.”
Most of Wilkinson’s teaching career was spent at law schools in Oregon and Colorado, where his influence and influence were deeply felt. In 1997, the regent of the University of Colorado recognized Wilkinson as a Distinguished Professor, one of only 25 at the university. His talent for teaching and deep dedication to research have been repeatedly recognized through numerous teaching and research awards throughout his illustrious career. Wilkinson famously hired law students as research assistants and sent them out into the world to learn about legal issues. These opportunities were often life-changing for him, leading to dozens of students practicing Indian law and public land law for decades.
A prolific author, Wilkinson is the author of 14 books, seminal work that has shaped the fields of Indian law and federal public land law. These include acclaimed casebooks and popular books. cross the next meridian, addressed pressing issues related to land, water, the West, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the complex history that shapes our nation. His writings, marked by their clarity and deep insight, have resonated with academics, practitioners and the general public, making him an influential voice in legal and environmental debates. An early thought leader in the field of environmental justice, he recognized early on that the rights of his Native Americans needed to be considered at the heart of public lands and conservation policies.
“Charles was a beloved man in the country of India,” said the professor. Kristen Carpenter who oversees Native American Law Program. “From the Navajo and Hopi of the deserts and canyons of the Southwest to the Yuroks, Nisqually and Siletz of the rivers and coasts of the Northwest, Charles spent much of his life working with the tribes who treated him I have come to trust Charles Wilkinson’s deep and respectful involvement with indigenous peoples is a model that AILP will always share with its students.”
Besides classrooms, letters, working with tribes, and assisting students, Wilkinson devoted himself to numerous special missions for the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Justice. His expertise was sought after and he played a key role in key negotiations and policy development. From facilitating agreements between the Timbisha Shoshone tribe and the National Park Service to serving as special counsel for the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments, Wilkinson’s successes have transcended the boundaries of academia. extended far beyond.
Charles Wilkinson’s extraordinary achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and honors. These honors include the National Wildlife Federation’s National Conservation Award in recognition of his unwavering commitment to protecting natural heritage. The Earl A. Chillies Award from the Oregon High Desert Museum recognizes his lifelong contribution to the high desert region, and the Towanat Award from the Warm Springs Museum recognizes his tireless efforts to help the people of India. praised.
Wilkinson’s visionary leadership and dedication to the Colorado Plateau earned him the John Wesley Powell Award from the Grand Canyon Trust. In addition, the Federal Bar Association has awarded him the Lawrence R. Baka Award for his lifetime achievements in Indian Law in recognition of his significant contributions in this field. In 2021, the Colorado Books and Colorado Center for the Humanities will present Charles Wilkinson with the Colorado Book Award Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the literary, historical, and legal communities of Colorado and the nation.
“The passing of Charles Wilkinson sharply brings into focus his extraordinary legacy—a legacy that embodies what our law school stands for most. ‘s life’s work will continue to guide and inspire us,” said Dean. lolita buckner innis. “His memory will continue to be a source of comfort and strength to the many who inherit his amazing dedication and honor the great changes he brought about.”
Charles Wilkinson’s legacy continues as he seeks to emulate his vision, passion and commitment to creating a more just and sustainable world for those who knew him firsthand or were inspired by his work. It will certainly continue to inspire generations to come.
The University of Colorado Law School extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Charles Wilkinson during this difficult time.
Details about the celebration of life will be shared as soon as possible.
A possible gift to law schools in memory of Charles is made here.invite you Share Charles stories and favorite memories. Please send any questions to wilkinsontribute@colorado.edu.
