Although Robert Harper (JD, MA, MA) is America’s leading expert in conflict resolution with Tribes, he is still a beginner, just like you. With more than two decades of experience, he has worked with over 680 people from 440+ organizations to provide advising, mediation, facilitation, and training.
But like us all, he continues to work with new Tribes in new situations with new challenges. He relies on proven, simple, time-tested tools. You can too.
Harper grew up in the Flathead Valley—between the Blackfeet and Flathead Indian Reservations. Troubled by conflicts between Native and Non-Native people, he embarked on a career in government affairs, working with Tribes and public agencies throughout the U.S. He became inspired by relational breakthroughs in his work—from historic water rights agreements to cultural and land repatriation efforts. In 2018, he left the civil litigation world and formed Seventh Sovereign to help parties build better relationships with Tribes.
Harper has extensive expertise in Tribal, federal, and state issues. He advised a range of professionals from executives and elected officials to subject matter specialists of every variety—from archaeologists to social workers. A past recipient of the John Marshall legal writing award, he has authored numerous interdisciplinary publications. He has taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses at multiple universities.
His recent conference seminars offer innovative approaches to treaty rights, Tribal sovereignty, and nation-to-nation negotiations. His current mediation and advisory work emphasizes partnership formation and alternatives to civil litigation.
Each month, he sends Tribal Relations insights to 12,000+ professionals just like you (get it free HERE).
EDUCATION
JD
Univ. of MT School of Law
MA—Geography
Univ. of MT
MA—Communication Studies
Univ. of MT
BA—Political Science
Hampden-Sydney College
ADVANCED CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING
American Indian Law
Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
Basic & Advanced Mediation
Basic & Advanced Negotiation
Facilitation & Process Design