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The youngest members of the Miller family, Evie and Wyatt. |
Greetings,
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time when our thoughts turn homeward. Tucson and the James E. Rogers College of Law have been my home, and my family's home, for over 12 years now.
On this Thanksgiving eve, I am thankful to belong to this wonderful, supportive Arizona Law community.
Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of a season of giving.
Arizona Law this year continues a great seasonal tradition, now in its fourth year, of participating in the
Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP)
#GivingTuesday campaign in support of our Huerta Scholars. Meet the 2017 Huerta Scholars and learn how to contribute below.
Until the footnotes,
Marc
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Join the Giving Tuesday Campaign to Support Huerta Scholars
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Judge Lawrence Huerta ('53)
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This Giving Tuesday, on November 28, support the next generation of lawyers through a donation to the Huerta Scholars Program. Please celebrate Native American Heritage Month by supporting native students!
Thanks to the generous support of Huerta Scholarship donors, Arizona Law and IPLP enrolled 15 Native American and indigenous students this year.
The diversity of experiences of this year's entering class continues Judge Lawrence Huerta's ('53) legacy of educational innovation and IPLP's tradition of bringing together students from across the country and world to collaborate and share strategies to advocate for indigenous peoples' rights.
Meet the 2017 Huerta Scholars
Martie Simmons is a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation. After gaining a solid understanding of foundational aspects of the law in her first year of law school, Martie is excited to delve into classes that focus on federal Indian law, treaty rights, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and environmental justice for tribal communities.
Martie was inspired to go to law school by the need to keep Native children connected to their family, community, and culture through compliance with ICWA. She says,
"The Indian Child Welfare Act is instrumental in keeping a child connected to their culture. After the tragic Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl ruling, I got more involved with defending ICWA and many other Indigenous causes. Law school was the next logical step and with the IPLP, I will be able to give back to Indian Country."
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Katrina Duran is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended the University of Arizona for her undergraduate degree, majoring in history. Katrina is interested in implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and wants to use her law degree to help survivors of abuse.
Katrina says she came to law school to:
"help others in the most substantial way I could. I know that through the law, I will leave lasting impacts on the lives of people that need it most. Ultimately, I want to provide help to victims of domestic abuse through the law, so that families remain healthy and safe."
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After spending time doing social work around the United States and in China,
Darrah Blackwater was inspired to pursue law in order to learn how to create change and help the underserved more effectively.
During her study of tribal law, Darrah says she hopes to:
"learn how to best advocate for my tribe, the Navajo Nation, and other tribal communities. I hope to be a positive voice in the conversation about Indigenous rights. I also have a special place in my heart and mind for those with disabilities and am excited to learn how to effectively and efficiently serve these communities as a lawyer."
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IPLP's International Human Rights Workshop Collaborates with Water Protectors
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University of Arizona SJD candidate Michelle Cook (far left), joined by LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, Tara Houska, and Jackie Fielder in Norway as part of DAPL divestment delegation.
*Image courtesy of Teena Pugliese, Women's Indigenous Media
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Contributing to landmark human rights advocacy projects is a pillar of the IPLP program. Students in IPLP clinical projects have been involved in precedent-setting human rights cases supporting indigenous communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Congo.
Currently, IPLP's
International Human Rights Workshop is working with the Water Protectors Legal Collective to develop an international human rights response to the legal and human rights concerns facing "water protectors" demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in Standing Rock, North Dakota.
Under the direction of Professor
Seanna Howard, workshop students are conducting research and developing legal strategies to engage international and regional human rights bodies, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States.
Professor
Rob Williams, IPLP co-chair, says,
"As legal remedies are pursued domestically, it is vital to simultaneously bring attention internationally to the violation of the constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest.
Petitioning international human rights bodies will provide a new forum to voice the concerns of those participating in the No DAPL movement."
IPLP Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) student
Michelle Cook is a founding member of the Water Protectors Legal Collective (WPLC) as well as a member of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network divestment campaign
. She has been working closely with Professor Howard on the collaboration with the WPLC.
Michelle and other members of a divestment delegation met with officials from Norway, Switzerland, and Germany to share their experiences on the front lines of the DAPL movement and urge divestment. She hopes that financial institutions from these countries come to expect that,
"if they invest in projects or companies that negatively impact indigenous peoples' rights, they can expect indigenous peoples to show up asking for accountability and divestment."
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The Daily Wildcat,
Arizona Law students participate in mock trials as part of Trial Advocacy Class
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In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we at Arizona Law are grateful to you, our generous and supportive alumni community.
We wish each of you a happy holiday spent with friends and family.
Warmly,
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