Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough   Occupation: Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alaska Anchorage

Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough (Inuit-Alaska) holds a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law (2002) and a Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University (1991).  Dr. Dorough is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Alaska Anchorage; Alaska Member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Advisory Committee on UN Issues; and Member of the International Law Association Committee on Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Dr. Dorough has a long history of direct involvement in the discussion, debate, and negotiation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).  She was an active participant in this work from 1985 up to adoption of the UNDRIP by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007.  Dr. Dorough was also a direct participant in the two-year revision process of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 107, which resulted in the adoption of C169 Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries on June 27, 1989 by the ILO.  She specializes in public international law, international human rights law, international relations, and Alaska Native self-determination.  In addition, she has experience in the administration, management and coordination of statewide, national and international organizations as well as estimating and oversight of federal, state and private construction contracts.

Past work experience includes President of Yellowknife Construction, Inc. [1996-2010]; Executive Director of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council [1993-1994]; Executive Director of International Union for Circumpolar Health [1991-1993]; Executive Director of Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) [1982-1989]; Paralegal at Chugach Natives, Inc. (now Chugach Alaska Corporation) [1980-1981]; Paralegal, Law Office of Phillip P. Weidner [1980]; Paralegal, Law Office of F. Browning Pipestem [1979]; Paralegal, North Slope Borough [1976-1977].

In the summer of 1977, Dr. Dorough assisted in the organizing of the first Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which took place in Barrow, Alaska and was hosted by the North Slope Borough.  During her tenure at the ICC, Dr. Dorough was responsible for not only the international human rights standard setting work but also for the coordination of the Alaska Native Review Commission (ANRC), which is regarded as one of the most important, comprehensive reviews of the impact of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.  The Commission’s work was led by former British Columbia Supreme Court Justice, Thomas R. Berger, who published his findings in the volume entitled Village Journey: The Report of the Alaska Native Review Commission.  

Dr. Dorough’s recent publications include:

“Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Remedy: The Need for a Distinct Cultural Context” in Business and Human Rights:  Indigenous Peoples’ Experiences with Access to Remedy, C. M. Doyle, ed (Chiang Mai, Madrid, Copenhagen:  IWGIA, AIPP, ALMACIGA, 2015) Access to Remedy_for web.pdf‎ (4 MB‎)‎[Open as Web Page‎]

“The Revision of ILO Convention No. 107:  A Subjective Assessment” and “Conference Remarks,” in D. S. Dorough, R. Dunbar Ortiz, G. Alfredsson, P. Wille and L. Swepston, eds, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in International Law:  Emergence and Application – A Book in Honor of Asbjorn Eide at Eighty (Copenhagen:  Galdu and International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs, 2015) http://www.iwgia.org/publications/search-pubs?publication_id=709

Human Rights chapter of the UN publication State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, February 2010, which can be found at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/sowip.html; and

"Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:  An Arctic Perspective," in Steven Allen and Alexandra Xanthaki, eds., Reflections on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Oxford:  Hart Publishing, 2011)

Honors, awards and memberships include Fulbright Scholarship Award 1995-1996; Patricia Roberts Harris Scholarship for Public Service 1989 and 1990; Bill Edmunds Award 1989; Reebok Human Rights Award 1988; Alaska State Advisory Committee, United States Commission on Civil Rights 2005-2013; Final Jury, Buffet Award for Indigenous Leadership 2000-2014; International Training Center for Indigenous Peoples, Faculty; Native Nations Institute, Advisory Council 2000-2005; Ecotrust, Board Member 1994-2005; and Alaska Conservation Foundation, Board of Trustees 1998-2000.