Jepson Leadership Forum presents Gregory Smithers

The 2026-27 Jepson Leadership Forum series presents Gregory Smithers for the discussion Living with Rivers: A Tale of Cherokee Stewardship and a Fight with the Federal Government.

Gregory Smithers is professor of American history at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of The Water Carriers: A Journey Through Cherokee History and the Secret Life of Rivers.

The 2026-27 Jepson Leadership Forum focuses on Indigenous Leadership: Tradition, Sovereignty, and Survival. Indigenous peoples around the world manage complex relationships with states while sustaining governance systems that predate colonial boundaries. In the United States, Native nations continue to defend their sovereignty and counter cultural misrepresentation. In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional authorities often bridge customary law and state institutions. Across these and other contexts, Indigenous leaders confront shared challenges: safeguarding land and resources, preserving cultural knowledge, securing legal recognition, and advocating for their communities within national and international frameworks. This forum convenes scholars, practitioners, and Indigenous leaders to examine how these leadership systems operate, how they evolved over time, and why they remain vital today.