National Honor Goes to American Indian Student Chapter

Members of the UA chapter of the National Native American Law Students' Association received individual and group honors at this month's annual meeting.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
April 15, 2009

American Indian law students at The University of Arizona received national honors during the National Native American Law Students Association meeting held earlier this month.

The UA chapter, which consists of 30 members representing tribal nations from across the United States, was honored for its involvement in various activities on and off campus.

Several student members of the UA chapter of the national association received individual awards, and the chapter itself earned the "Chapter of the Year" designation from the national association, which is affiliated with the Federal Bar association.

"It is a tough competition because there are many chapters throughout the country with people doing just as important things for their communities," said Leah Lussier, a second year student in the James E. Rogers College of Law and a member of Red Lake Ojibwe.

Lussier, also the chapter's president, earned the national association's "2L Student of the Year" award.

"It was very exciting for us to receive the news. Everybody is devoted and involved in the organization and we definitely deserved the recognition and the awards this year," Lussier said.

"For me, personally, this means a lot because the award recognizes the work I have done as the president," she added.

The UA chapter reported its activities to the national association along with members who are part of chapters at schools that include Michigan State University, George Washington University, Columbia University, Harvard University and University of California, Los Angeles.

Additionally, several UA College of Law students were elected to executive board positions.

Caleb Dogeagle, a first-year student who is a member of Standing Rock Lakota, was named national board treasurer.

Pasqua Yaqui tribal member Mercedes Garcia and Jordan Thompson, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai – both first-year students – were also named area representatives.

In the report, the UA chapter noted that it held the annual Indigenous Peoples Day at the law school and also co-hosted a golf tournament with the Latino Law Student Association to raise money for the organization.

The members also initiated luncheons for first-year law students at the UA and social mixers for American Indian professionals and graduate students. The chapter also hosted Pascua Yaqui high school students for a dinner and discussion about the legal field and law school.

Chapter members also were involved with Election Protection during the presidential election, help run a legal referral clinic at the Tucson Indian Center and have also worked toward launching the Arizona Indian Law Journal.

The chapter has been involved in numerous other events to "provide a place for American Indian law students, as well as those interested in Indian law," the report noted.

"We're really proud of our accomplishments," Lussier said, "and we hope to exceed them in the future."

Office of University Communications

888 N. Euclid Ave. Room 413, Tucson,Arizona 85721