McNair Summer Research Program

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Juliana Maxim & Dr. Jennifer Tillman

Publication Date

Summer 8-31-2026

Disciplines

Law and Philosophy | Philosophy | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

Decolonization is a term often used to present a simple shift from colonial thinking, heavily maintaining the establishment of colonial systems today. However, this usage oversimplifies and overshadows the word’s key purpose. Common proclamations of the term forgo the fundamental indigenous essence behind the word. Doing so, we not only strip the word of its inherent power, but obstruct further possibilities for actual decolonization to appear in our world. Many argue that the U.S. legal system, a product of colonial factors, has reached an alarming state. Our current legal, political atmosphere gears not towards justice or morality, but fascism and oligarchy. The colonial make-up of our legal system seemingly fails to effectively and actively combat these unwanted outcomes. With a truly native-derived mindset of decoloniality, we can form solutions within our legal structure that benefits more than just a select few. These solutions repair the damage of our current legal system, rightfully acknowledge the importance of native forms of society, and incorporate the philosophies of indigenous peoples into daily practice. This research advocates for incorporation of decolonial philosophies in our legal system. First, we define what exactly is “Decolonization.” Then, we examine existing California water legislation and legal precedent to discover key missteps and what can be improved. The project culminates in a revised version of certain laws and guidelines on how future legislation should be created. In whole, we aim to argue the material importance of indigenous ideologies and recognition of indigenous offerings as useful in contemporary ordinances.

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