Turtle Talk

Here is the press release:

Tribal lawyer honored for his work in ensuring religious freedoms for Native American prisoners and indigenous peoples

SEATTLE, WA [Sept. 19, 2014] — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) presented Seattle attorney Gabriel Galanda with its 2014 Excellence in Diversity Award, in recognition of his leadership in advocating for religious rights for Native American prisoners and indigenous peoples. WSBA President Patrick Palace presented the award at the WSBA Annual Awards Dinner on Sept. 18, 2014, at the Sheraton Seattle.

“I am truly grateful for this honoring, especially insofar as it brings greater attention to the religious plight of American indigenous prisoners,” said Galanda.

 

Galanda is the managing partner of Galanda Broadman, PLLC, where he represents tribal governments and businesses in critical litigation and crisis management. He also advocates for Native American citizens in civil rights controversies, and mediates and arbitrates Indian Country-related disputes.

 

Galanda is the founder and board chair of Huy, a tribally controlled nonprofit organization that provides economic, educational, rehabilitative and religious support for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian prisoners. In addition to charitable fundraising and giving, Huy advocates for Native prisoners’ religious freedoms through “friend of the court” appearances before federal and state appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and non-governmental organization advocacy to international human rights tribunals.

 

Galanda has dedicated hundreds of hours of pro bono service to Native prisoners. He also founded the Indian Legal Scholars Program, a joint venture between the Northwest Indian Bar Association and the WSBA Indian Law Section, which has donated over $150,000 in scholarship funds and bar stipends to aspiring Native lawyers.

 

In 2004, thanks to Galanda’s efforts, Washington became the second of three states in the country to include Indian law topics on its bar exam. In recognition of his work, Galanda was honored with the WSBA Young Lawyers Division’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. Galanda is a citizen of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.

 

“Gabe exemplifies the spirit of professionalism in the practice of law and WSBA’s culture of service,” said his partner Anthony Broadman.

 

About the Excellence in Diversity Award

This award is made to a lawyer, law firm, or law-related group that has made a significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession.

 

About the Washington State Bar Association

The WSBA is part of the judicial branch and is authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state’s 36,089 lawyers and over 1,000 other legal professionals. In furtherance of our obligation to protect and serve the public, the WSBA both regulates lawyers and other legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA’s mission is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.