David Eugene Wilkins

Professor of American Indian Studies, Political Science, Law and American Studies
Pembroke State University, B.A.
University of Arizona, M.A.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Ph.D. 

David Wilkins is a Professor of American Indian Studies, Political Science, Law and American Studies at the University of Minnesota. He teaches and writes in the areas of comparative politics, American political theory, federal Indian policy, tribal government, and history of colonialism and native peoples.
Professor Wilkins received his B.A. degree in Sociology from Pembroke State University in 1976, his M.A. in Political Science and American Indian Policy from the University of Arizona in 1982, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1990. From 1984–87, Professor Wilkins was an instructor at the Navajo Community College,Tsaile, Navajo Nation, Arizona. In 1990, he was an adjunct lecturer and from 1991–97 an Assistant Professor for the Department of Political Science and American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. He has been at the University of Minnesota since 1999. Professor Wilkins is currently serving as Chair of American Indian Studies. 

Abstract: 
"Disenrollment in Indian Country: Indigenous Self-Decimation in an Age of Self-Determination." 

This essay is focused on discerning how and why increasing numbers of Native nations are employing banishment and disenrollment proceedings to forcibly exile individuals, families, and in some cases whole segments of communities. These are individuals that had previously been duly enrolled or recognized as "citizens" of their nations. How is it that the U.S., a secular, federal republic, has in place policies and laws that make it far more difficult for U.S. "citizens" to have their citizenship status terminated than for Native nations who, at least historically, were related by something far deeper? What does "citizenship" mean to tribal governing officials? How does it compare with the concept of "membership?" What are the broader implications of such indigenous terminations?