This year, the University of Arizona Law School’s NALSA chapter is sponsoring the Writing Competition of the National Native American Law Students’ Association. The winning article will be published in the Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law.
Writing Competition Announcement
Writing Competition Registration
2009 Writing Competition Rules
Eligible papers will cover any of the following topics:
I will be sitting on a panel on tribal governments on Monday with Ada Deer and David Cornsilk at the University of Michigan.
Here is an excerpt from “American Indian Law: A Surge of Interest on Campus,” from the Sept. 26, 2008 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education (article):
Growing up on a Navajo reservation near Gallup, N.M., Jordan Hale never dreamed he would one day be standing in front of a courtroom recommending whether a defendant should be released on bond, or working with a prosecutor to draft a criminal complaint.
Becoming a lawyer was the farthest thing from the mind of the high-school runner whose home, at the end of a dirt road, had no running water or telephone.
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Tribes have sovereignty rights that are spelled out in treaties with the United States, so their laws don’t always align with the government’s. That is why, for instance, Indian tribes can open casinos that would not be permitted on nontribal land.
“More and more law schools are recognizing the importance of including Indian law in the curriculum because their graduates are encountering questions that require some knowledge of Indian law and sovereignty,” says Wenona T. Singel, an assistant professor of law at Michigan State University. Like many Indian law professors, Ms. Singel brings practical experience to the classroom. In addition to helping lead her law school’s Indian-law program, she serves as chief justice of her tribe, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
She says about 20 law schools nationwide report having Indian-law programs, while other experts say the number of full-fledged programs is about 12. Among the other law schools active in Indian law are those at Harvard University, Lewis and Clark College, and the Universities of Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Learning the basics of tribal law is more than an academic exercise for many law students.
A few states, including New Mexico, South Dakota, and Washington, have Indian-law topics on their bar exam that students must pass to practice law. Others, including Arizona, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, and Oklahoma, are considering adding such a requirement.
From the State News:
For many people, Columbus Day is a time to celebrate the discovery of America. For Native Americans, the day is a time to remember the lives that were lost after America was founded.
The North American Indigenous Student Organization held a candlelight vigil at the rock on Farm Lane on Monday to honor the memory of Native Americans who suffered.
In previous years, NAISO has held a parade or a rally around campus, but this year, the organization wanted to do something more and thought a candlelight vigil would be more meaningful and impactful, said Melissa Beard, public relations chairperson of NAISO.
National Law STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION
Re-defining Critical Race Theory:
The Future of the Movement
The year 2009 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first Critical Race Theory (CRT) workshop. Twenty years ago, the founders of CRT met at a convent in Wisconsin to consider race and ethnicity and the manner in which these categories permeate every aspect of law and society. Although early CRT scholars were subjected to considerable skepticism, they bravely continued to write and speak about race, confident that their scholarship reflected an unacknowledged reality. Their scholarship entered the discourse of civil rights and constitutional law in the United States, but also influenced other doctrines, including criminal law, family law, and immigration law. CRT gave birth to other progressive, anti-subordination movements such as Latina/o Critical Theory, OutCrits, and ClassCrits. The academy has been enriched by the important contributions of CRT scholars.
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From Diverse: Issues in Higher Education:
Melissa Velky, a third-year law student at Michigan State University’s College of Law, is not waiting until graduation to immerse herself in a serious legal confrontation. With the livelihood of her native tribe at stake, Velky, daughter of Schaghticoke Nation Chief Richard Velky, is working now to help restore her tribe’s federal recognition.
Velky and nearly 300 others were members of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation until their federal recognition was revoked in 2005. Velky, an indigenous law major, plans to launch an Internet-based campaign titled “Students for Justice” that will utilize social networks like Facebook and MySpace to garner support for her tribe.
“I am Schaghticoke, and I will always be,” says Velky, denouncing the notion that her identity and the history of her people can be revoked with the stroke of a pen.
Interesting program hosted by MSU students, featuring Joseph and John Trimbauch, and Tim Giago. Commentary about Wounded Knee, “Incident at Oglala,” Leonard Peltier, Russell Means, and others. April 23 at the Kellogg Center.
From Arizona Native Net:
All LLM and JD students are eligible to participate. The deadline for submission is May 16, 2008. Essays are expected to be between 12 & 15 pages.
The topic this year is:
Provide an in-depth discussion of the past and current legal authority for development of renewable and non-renewable energy resources on Indian lands by federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal enterprises, and/or non-Indian entities. The paper should discuss the recently enacted Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act of 2005 and include a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (“TERA”) versus tribes developing the subject resources directly or through tribal enterprises such as a Section 17 corporation without utilizing a TERA. Describe how you would advise a tribal government regarding it options with respect to the development of renewable and non-renewable energy resources on Indian lands considering the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act of 2005 and any cases you deem relevant.
Please use the following links for complete information on the competition or for an entry form.
Continue reading
Though they’re competing with our own Cohen panel on March 28, I have to point out the good work that the U of M NALSA is going in continuing the long-standing tradition of “Law Days” at the law school. Here is this year’s flyer — American Indian Law Day 2008
From the Ingham County Ledger:
MSU Students Win 3rd Place in Best Brief and Place in Overall Competition
Great job Nova and Alicia!
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