Dani Delaney

Research Interests

Indigenous politics, indigenous rights, sovereignty movements, federal Indian law, Russian politics, legal theory, comparative political theory, comparative politics

Brief Biography

Dani Delaney's research centers on the legal discourse of indigeneity and the politics of recognition through a comparative analysis of the legal strategies of American Indians/Alaska Natives and the indigenous peoples of northern Russia (коренные малочисленные народы Сибири). Their fieldwork focuses on indigenous political protection and legal challenges to oil development on indigenous lands. They teach indigenous politics, constitutional law, and political theory. They are also the advisor for the Undergraduate Moot Court Team.

Before returning to graduate school They were the legislative director for the National Council of Urban Indian Health and legal counsel to the Tribal Technical Advisory Group to the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare (TTAG: CMS). They received their JD from Georgetown University Law Center with a focus on legislative advocacy and were Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellow.

Recent publications include “Under Coyote’s Mask: Environmental Law, Indigenous Identity, and #NoDAPL” in the Spring 2019 volume of the Michigan Journal of Race & Law.

Teaching

For detailed information about political studies courses and instructors, please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate pages. 

Service (2024/2025)

• Departmental Committee
• Library Representative