Student Activities – Page 17

National NALSA Announces 2015 Moot Court Winners (UPDATED with pics)

March 16, 2015March 17, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here:

On March 6th and 7th of 2015 the National Native American Law Students Association (“NNALSA”) held its Annual Moot Court Competition. The competition was hosted by the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. This year’s competition was the biggest ever! 70 teams participated, and over 100 attorneys from Arizona to Washington D.C. served as brief and oral judges. All of the judges volunteered their own time and many paid their own travel expenses. The James E. Rogers College of Law’s NALSA chapter would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped plan and host this memorable competition.

This year’s winners include:

1st Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 181 of William Mitchell, Joshua Peterson and Scott Jurchisin

2nd Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 54 of University of Kansas, Corey Adams and Maureen Orth

3rd Place Best Overall Advocate: Team 92 of Seattle University, Drew Pollom and Jocelyn McCurtain

1st Place Best Brief: Team 181 of William Mitchell, Joshua Peterson and Scott Jurchisin

2nd Place Best Brief: Team 28 of Columbia, Jacob Wolf and Andrew Sangster

3rd Place Best Brief: Team 126 of Michigan State, Stephen Raslich and Amy Foerster

1st Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 120 of Univ. of Hawaii, Jordan Inafuki

2nd Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 73 of Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, Kostan R. Lathouris

3rd Place Best Spoken Advocate: Team 120 of Univ. of Hawaii, Dylan Taschner

This was the second year that William Mitchell took “Best Brief” and “Best Overall Advocate.” Sarah Deer, who received one of the McArthur Genius awards this year, helped coach William Mitchell’s winning team. Colette Routel of William Mitchell helped coach the winning team as well.

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition!

Sincerely,

NNALSA

UPDATE with Pics:

2015 Wisconsin ILSA Coming Together of Peoples Conference Agenda — March 20-21, 2015

March 11, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here (PDF):

Congrats to Steve and Amy!

March 8, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Best brief, third place

Congrats to Team Anishinaabe at the NNALSA Moot Court!

March 7, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Cornell NALSA to Host Tribal Economic Development Summit This Saturday (To be Live Streamed)

February 26, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Here is the agenda (PDF):

Here is the live stream link for the morning panel sessions:
http://law.webcast.video.cornell.edu/Mediasite/Play/4c30d7814aec4710a6f84e9dc33dfc851d

And here is the link for the Keynote address:
http://law.webcast.video.cornell.edu/Mediasite/Play/e5f613f211524a7abaaa8401574bca081d

University of South Dakota NALSA Extends Support to the Lakota 57

February 25, 2015February 26, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

The University of South Dakota School of Law Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) organized a Peace Gathering in honor of the 57 children from American Horse School on the Pine Ridge Reservation. These students, age 9 to 13, were attending a Rapid City Rush hockey game in recognition of their school accomplishments. Unfortunately, these students had beer poured on them and were subject to racial epithets. The alleged perpetrator was charged with a low level misdemeanor of disorderly conduct.

The gathering brought together almost 30 law students and faculty members into the courtroom. The Law School community was invited to write personal letters of encouragement and support to send to the students. NALSA’s goal is to send a strong message to the children so that they know we support them in their efforts to continue to strive and to grow from this negative and ugly experience.

Tysolake House, second year law student and Vice-President of NALSA, shared his thoughts on the incident. For Tysolake, this incident hit very close to home. He mentioned the obstacles he had to overcome dealing with racially charged issues as a child. He also expressed his sympathies for the children as he envisioned this situation potentially happening to his own children, who are the same age.

USD Law Professor Frank Pommersheim shared a few thoughts about how to move forward from this horrible incident. His remarks focused on the need for ‘solidarity,’ particularly from NALSA and the legal community, to show support for these young native students. These students need to know that there are many people of good will who want them to succeed.

Gene Thin Elk, Director of the Native American Cultural Center, also attended the Peace Gathering in support of the children from American Horse School. Gene expressed his support by sharing a few words about overcoming adversity and by singing a Lakota Song.

At the conclusion of this gathering everyone gathered to take a group picture. Everyone in attendance firmly stood behind the banner that exclaimed the words, “They are our children too.”

-Kyle Chase

USD NALSA President

National NALSA Press Release on 2015 Alternative Spring Break Program

February 25, 2015February 25, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From here:

I am proud to announce the 2015 Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program projects that have been selected to receive an award. The National Native American Law Student Association Executive Board has chosen a project from Columbia Law School and the University of Michigan Law School! Columbia Law School will be working with Anishinabe Legal Services on three reservations in northwestern Minnesota to assist indigent program clients with civil needs, including a strong emphasis on domestic violence. Michigan Law School will be travelling to the Navajo Nation to work with DNA Legal Services to gain legal and practical skills, while also learning about Navajo life in Window Rock, Arizona. NNALSA has budgeted $1,000 for this year’s program, and each school will receive an award of $500! NNALSA would also like to recognize all program applicants for the high quality projects that were submitted. Congratulations to this year’s award winners!

In other news, Alex Kitson has made the difficult decision to resign from her duties as the Public Relations Director of NNALSA. On behalf of the Board of NNALSA, I would like to thank Alex for her time and commitment at helping NNALSA achieve its goals by helping to spread the word through numerous media outlets. Alex, you will be missed and good luck in all of your future endeavors.

The Executive Board took a vote and appointed P. Nelson Lambert to the PR Director position. Nelson entered NNALSA as the Area 5 representative. Because the Board appointed him to PR Director Area 5 is now vacant and we are looking to fill the position. If any member is interested in representing Area 5 please send an interest statement to nnalsa.president@gmail.com.

Be sure to keep a look out for future announcements because NNALSA has some wonderful events and opportunities coming up! Events such as the National Moot Court Competition at the University of Arizona, and “Fed-Bar” where the new future board members of NNALSA will be elected and where the best 1L, 2L, 3L, and Chapter of the Year awards will be given. I hope everyone is excited about the future of NNALSA, and the positive future we are trying to achieve for Indian Country.

Nelson Lambert

J.D. Candidate, 2016

Charlotte School of Law

National NALSA Public Relations Director

nnalsa.publicrelations@gmail.com

www.nationalnalsa.org

Yale NALSA Climate Change Event

February 23, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Climate Change and Native Nations: The Search for Legal Remedies

Saturday, February 28, 2:45-3:45pm

Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect Street, Room G01

The effects of climate change are continuing to increase and are disproportionately affecting tribal communities. Some Native nations have taken action to mitigate the effects of and adapt to climate change to protect their natural resources, homelands, infrastructure, and food sources. This workshop will address the following questions: What is the current state of climate policy within Native communities? What are Indian Country’s best resiliency practices? What opportunities and challenges exist in using various international and domestic legal tools to seek redress?

Elizabeth Kronk Warner (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Associate Professor of Law and Director, Tribal HeLaw & Government Center, University of Kansas School of Law

Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-directions-in-environmental-law-2015-harnessing-momentum-tickets-14553793789

This panel is part of Yale Law School’s 2015 New Directions in Environmental Law Conference. To learn more about the conference, please visit: http://www.law.yale.edu/news/2015envirolawconference.htm.

Cornell NALSA Tribal Economic Development Action Summit

February 6, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Agenda here (PDF):

Yale NALSA Event on Tribal Peacemaking

February 6, 2015Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Native Peacemaking: A Traditional Approach to Conflict Resolution

Friday, February 20, 2015 at 5:15-6:45pm
Yale Law School

Peacemaking is a traditional Native approach to resolving conflict that focuses on healing and restoration rather than punishment. Although peacemaking varies across tribes, it generally brings together the disputants, along with family members, friends, and other members of the community to speak about how the event, crime, or crisis affected each person. Panelists will discuss the goals of peacemaking and how tribal courts are using this strategy to tackle Indian justice issues.

Panelists:

Rita Gilman, Peacemaker, Mohegan Tribe
Shawn Watts, Associate Director, Edson Queiroz Foundation Mediation Program, and Lecturer in Law, Columbia Law School
Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, Tribal Historian and Medicine Woman, Mohegan Tribe

Registration: https://www.cvent.com/events/21st-annual-rebellious-lawyering-conference/registration-8556edb1831842159e12e9a427930a69.aspx

This panel is part of Yale Law School’s 2015 Rebellious Lawyering Conference. To learn more about the conference, please visit: http://www.yale.edu/reblaw.