Charles Wilkinson stands apart in our profession. He is a formidable academic, a legend in his fields.
But he is also a true public intellectual—someone who speaks to and reaches a much broader audience beyond the academy. At the same time, he is in the world in a very serious and sustained way. From the beginning of his career, he has always been deeply involved in real-world struggles, most recently in his efforts on the Bears Ears National Monument.
Everyone who knows Charles recognizes that he embodies so much that is true and right. Some of it surely comes from his profound sense of place. He belongs in that noble tradition that Wallace Stegner wrote about. He is a lover of the known earth, the known weather, and known neighbors—both human and nonhuman. He is unapologetic and fierce in his commitment to regionalism—at a time when so many of the forces in modern life are pushing so hard in the other direction. But his is not a romantic or sentimental regionalism. It is one built on deep engagement and confrontation with the past—one that can, at the same time, hold together the dark, violent, tragic elements of the American West, with a reverence—even an exaltation—for all that the West is and still could be.*
*Excerpted from an encomium written by the Law School Evaluations Committee.
“Charles asks the hard, right questions. He listens with an intensity and respect that reminds us of the generative power of long silences. He knows where he is, and he knows who he is. He leads by example, with a rare combination of humility, rectitude, and good cheer. He has put his considerable gifts to work in defending people and places across the American West. He has gone out into the world, and he has made a life that matters.”
William Boyd is a professor at UCLA School of Law and UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. From 2008 to 2018, he was on the faculty at Colorado Law, during which time he had the great good fortune of having Charles Wilkinson as a mentor, friend, and occasional fishing partner.
“Charles Wilkinson is a beloved and revered teacher. Generations of students credit Charles with sparking their love of the West, their interest in environmental law, and their passion to protect Native American rights. The ‘Charles effect’ is evident in federal, state, and tribal agencies as well as nonprofits throughout the country. Through his infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge, he ensured that his legacy will persist in courtrooms, legislatures, and council chambers for many years to come.”
Sarah Krakoff, Moses Lasky Professor of Law
“Across Indian Country, Charles is known and trusted by tribal members and leaders. Charles has stood with Indian people in legal battles, met their families, and shared food and ceremonies, and through these experiences he has become a relative, an elder, and a beloved person. He leaves a legacy of deep understanding and respect for students, lawyers, and academics to follow into the future.”
Kristen Carpenter, Council Tree Professor of Law
