Leo Killsback, Ph.D. (Northern Cheyenne)

Heše'éveeséhe náhésetsêhésevéhe. Nátsêhéstahe naa ná ôh-méseestse. Vóhpoométanéno návo'êstanéheve.Náhko'éehe “Áeméóná'e” ehésetsêhésevéhe. Heške, “Evana'hane'e” ehésetsêhésevéhe. Heške, “Hahnomâhe'hehe” ehésetsêhésevéhe. Heške, “Eseovoeva'e” ehésetsêhésevéhe. Naa eho “Vooheheve” ehésetsêhésevéhe. Onéhanótâxeo'o  návo'êstanéheve. Hohnóhkao'o náestáha.

Biography:
Leo Killsback is an Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University. He is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation of southeastern Montana. Killsback grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and he culturally and spiritually identifies himself as a Cheyenne person.

Killsback recently earned a doctorate degree in American Indian Studies with emphases on tribal government, tribal law, federal Indian law, and American Indian culture and spirituality. His dissertation entitled, The Chiefs’ Prophecy: the Destruction of Original Cheyenne Leadership During the Critical Era, 1876-1935, is a epic of the history of Northern Cheyenne leaders, governance, and leadership systems. Written from a Cheyenne-centered perspective, his work uses traditional Cheyenne philosophies and oral traditions, as well as critical race and decolonizing theories, to track the sources of modern tribal leadership and government problems specific, but not isolated, to the Northern Cheyenne.

Research Interests:
Killsback’s academic interests are in tribal government, tribal law, traditional customary law, indigenous leadership, American Indian spirituality, and Plains Indian history and culture. Currently Killsback is editing his dissertation for publication. Killsback is interested in the history of the Great Plains, in particular the resistance from the Plains Indian tribes. Killsback is also interested in critical theories in race, racism, deconstruction, and decolonization, primarily focused on indigenous rights, tribal sovereignty, sacred sites, and justice systems. Other interests include history, social theory, and indigenous theorizing.

Service:
Fort Robinson Breakout Committee of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Committee Member (2005 - present).

Rosebud Battle and Wolf Mountains Preservation Committee of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Committee Member (2005 - present).

North American Indigenous Task Force, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (2009 - present).