Join the National Constitution Center and the Oklahoma History Center Museum for a full-day professional development workshop exploring the history of tribal sovereignty through constitutional history and primary-source inquiry.
During this workshop, educators will examine the constitutional and judicial history of tribal sovereignty through the Center’s nonpartisan educational framework. Participants will analyze historical documents and judicial decisions, consider how the Constitution and federal law have shaped the relationship between tribal nations and the United States, and make connections to Oklahoma academic standards.
To conclude the workshop, participants will examine the role of tribal sovereignty in Oklahoma communities today, including its connections to government, language, and cultural preservation. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the constitutional and judicial history of tribal sovereignty, a greater understanding of its role in Oklahoma today, and practical strategies for helping students engage in careful, evidence-based discussion of this important part of Oklahoma and American history.
All participating teachers will receive a $100 stipend. Participants traveling over 60 miles to attend will be eligible for an additional $50 travel stipend. All participants will receive a light breakfast and boxed lunch (dietary restrictions will be accommodated).
During the workshop you will:
- Use key Supreme Court decisions from the Marshall Court (1801-1835) to examine constitutional questions using the Center’s trusted nonpartisan framework, led by Civic Education for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Fellows Michael Davis and Nick Hegge.
- Explore historically grounded primary sources and educational resources with Mallory Covington, Archivist, Oklahoma Historical Society.
- Learn strategies to teach the impacts of the Reconstruction Treaties of 1866 with Oklahoma educator Carrie Fox.
- Hear from Jacqui Robb, Director of Teaching and Learning, Osage County Interlocal Cooperative about how tribal sovereignty is reflected through community, language, and cultural preservation to help connect standards to what sovereignty looks like in their communities today.
Logistical Details
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Oklahoma History Center Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
- Space is limited. Please register by October 9, 2026 to secure your space.
Agenda
- 10:15 a.m. – Registration (Light breakfast and coffee will be provided)
- 10:30 a.m. – Constitutional Inquiry: The Marshall Trilogy with Michael Davis and Nick Hegge, National Constitution Center
- 12:00 p.m. – Lunch provided
- 12:30 p.m. – Primary Source Exploration with Mallory Covington, Oklahoma Historical Society Research
- 1:00 – Teaching the Impacts of the Reconstruction Treaties of 1866 with Carrie Fox
- 2:25 – What Does Tribal Sovereignty Look Like since the 1970s? with Jacqui Robb, Osage County Interlocal Cooperative
- 4:00 p.m. – Programming Concludes. Participants are encouraged to explore the OHCM until 5 p.m. closing.
