The Columbia Law Native American Law Students Association is proud to present the winners of the
12th Annual
Indian Law Writing Competition
1st Place- Jason Portwood Hipp, Columbia Law School, “Rethinking Rewriting: Tribal Constitutional Amendment and Reform”
Sponsored by Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP and will be published in the Columbia Journal of Race and Law
2nd Place – Daniel Kin Chung Lee, Seattle University School of Law, “A Century of Uncertainty and the New Politics of Indian Water Settlement: How Tribes and States Can Overcome the Chilling Effect of the PAYGO Act”
Sponsored by Dentons US LLP
3rd Place – Melissa Thaisz, Lewis and Clark Law School, “Native Hawaiians & NAGPRA: Is Federal Recognition the Answer?”
Sponsored by Shanker & Kewenvoyouma, PLLC
Will your organization host interns in Washington, D.C. this summer? Do you know a student that will be in D.C. to intern or clerk at an organization or firm that works in Indian law and policy? If so, please forward them this email and encourage them to sign up for the NABA-DC Brown Bag Series.
Every year, the Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C. (NABA-DC) organizes events for summer interns working in the field of Indian law and policy. Our goal is to offer exposure to the variety of spheres in DC where Native American law and policy is made. Events include brown bags lunches at government agencies, law firms, and non-profit organizations, as well as happy hours and a summer picnic.
Last year’s Brown Bag Lunch hosts included the Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary’s Office, Indian Law Resource Center, National Indian Gaming Association, Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor, Holland & Knight, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson and Perry, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Department of Justice Environmental and Natural Resources Division, National Indian Gaming Commission, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, SNR Denton (now Dentons), National Congress of American Indians, and more.
The Brown Bags are a wonderful opportunity for interns to network with fellow interns and potential employers.
Interns should sign up for the free series at
Contact Chris King or Patrick Sullivan with any questions at
NABA-DC is a volunteer organization for Native American and non-Native American lawyers, lobbyist, and law students interested in Native American law and policy. We provide a space for social and professional networking and organize activities to enrich the experiences of Native American students and interns in Washington D.C.
Congratulations to NALSA’s 2013-2014 E-board!
President: John Simermeyer (Coharie Settlement of Tuscarora Indians, NC) Michigan State University College of Law
Vice President: Roy Brown (Northern Arapaho) Oklahoma University College of Law
Secretary: JoAnn Kintz (Oglala Lakota), Columbia Law School
Treasurer: Hunter Cox (Prairie Band Pottawatomi), University of Michigan
Public Relations: Nellie David (Tohono O’odham), Michigan State University College of Law
National Liaison: Jeff Cormell, William Mitchell College of Law
Area 1 Representative: Chase Velasquez (White Mountain Apache), University of Arizona
Area 2 Representative: Xavier Barraza (Hopland Band of Pomo), University of New Mexico School of Law
Area 3 Representative: Jacob Wamego (Prairie Band Pottawatomi), University of Kansas School of Law
Area 4 Representative: Tamera Begay (Navajo), Michigan State University College of Law
Area 5 Representative: Caroline LaPorte (Little River Band of Ottowa), University of Miami
Area 6 Representative: Rose Nimkiins Petoskey (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa), Cornell Law School
Area 7 Representative: Ashley Ray (Muskogee Creek), University of Idaho College of Law
Area 8 Representative: Aarik Robertson (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), William Mitchell College of Law
Congratulations to NNALSA Award Winners 2013!
1L of the year – Hunter Cox University of Michigan College of Law
2L of the year – Nellie David Michigan State University College of Law
3L of the year – Jenny Patten – Columbia Law
Chapter of the Year – Lewis and Clark
