Category Archives: Research

National Native American Bar Association Releases Study of Native American Attorneys

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The National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) and NNABA Foundation recently released the results of the first-of-its-kind research study on Native American attorneys. This research is the only comprehensive research regarding Native American attorneys across all practice settings where each and every of the over 500 survey respondents identified as Native American.

One of the powerful findings of this study is that Native Americans often feel invisible and share an overarching perspective that their experiences are not valid or real. In addition to documenting the failure of traditional diversity and inclusion efforts to reach Native American attorneys, the study sheds light on unique challenges facing American Indians. Native Americans are clearly behind even other underrepresented groups in terms of inclusion, retention, and representation.

“This comprehensive research is not only the first – but the only – research that examines the experiences of Native American attorneys across all practice settings. It presents a stark portrait of an entire group of attorneys systematically excluded from the legal profession,” said Mary Smith, NNABA President. “It is clear that traditional diversity and inclusion programs are simply not working for Native American attorneys. NNABA hopes that this research will be used to build a more robust pipeline of Native American attorneys and to work toward the full inclusion of Native Americans in the legal profession.”

Highlights of the research include:

  • The survey captured information from 527 Native American attorneys, approximately 20% of the 2,640 Native American attorneys in the United States.
  • The most satisfied attorneys were working in the tribal sector, and the least satisfied attorneys were working for the federal/state government or law firms; however, tribal politics/cliques, overwhelming workloads, and not being able to make an impactful difference were cited as primary sources of dissatisfaction even in the context of being generally satisfied.
  • Over 40% of the attorneys overall in the study reported experiencing demeaning comments or other types of harassment based on their race, ethnicity, and/or tribal affiliation; and 33.63% reported experiencing one or more forms of discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, and/or tribal affiliation.
  • Women were more likely than men to report demeaning comments and/or harassment based on gender (38% to 3%); discrimination based on gender (35% to 4%); denial of advancement or promotional opportunities due to gender (21% to 3%); and denial of appropriate compensation due to gender (29% to 1%).
  • Over 76% of the attorneys in this study reported that more awareness and understanding of issues faced by Native Americans would have a positive impact on their careers. In comparison, only 60% of the attorneys felt that more effective implementation of diversity and inclusion policies in their workplace would have a positive impact on their careers. This is not surprising given the ways diversity and inclusion initiatives have largely ignored the issues and concerns of Native American attorneys.

For more information and to view the full report and the executive summary, go to http://www.nativeamericanbar.org/native-american-attorney-study/.

Founded in 1973, NNABA serves as the national association for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NNABA strives for justice and effective legal representation for all American indigenous peoples; fosters the development of Native American lawyers and judges; and addresses social, cultural and legal issues affecting American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

For more information contact 480-727-0420 or visit www.nativeamericanbar.org. 

Navajo Nation Law 2014 CLE Conference – Oct 24, 2014 – Early Bird Registration ends tomorrow 10/01 at 5 pm.

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Navajo Nation Law 2014 CLE Conference – Oct 24, 2014 – Early Bird Registration ends tomorrow 10/01 at 5 pm.  Get your required annual Navajo Bar CLE credits here.   New Mexico MCLE approval pending.

Click here for Agenda and Registration:  

 

Congrats to ILP student Jeremiah Chin, (Class of 2014) Recipient of the Ross-Blakley Law Library Award for Exemplary Student Research

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First Place: Jeremiah Chin, Red Law, White Supremacy: Cherokee Freedmen, Tribal Sovereignty and the Colonial Feedback Loop

Second Place: Jennifer Walston, Arizona’s Domestic Violence Victims Need a More Safety-Centered Approach in Their Pursuit of Family Court Orders

The Ross-Blakley Law Library at the Sandra O’Connor College of Law is pleased to announce the 2014 recipients of The Ross-Blakley Law Library Award for Exemplary Student Research.  Jeremiah Chin is the first place award recipient for his paper, Red Law, White Supremacy: Cherokee Freedmen, Tribal Sovereignty and the Colonial Feedback Loop and Jennifer Walston earned second-place honors for, Arizona’s Domestic Violence Victims Need a More Safety-Centered Approach in Their Pursuit of Family Court Orders. Jeremiah Chin and Jennifer Walston’s papers demonstrate sophistication and originality in the use of research materials, exceptional innovation in research strategy, and skillful synthesis of research results into a comprehensive scholarly analysis.

A review panel comprised of librarians Victoria Trotta and Beth DiFelice and Associate Clinical Professor Kimberly Holst selected the winners from the competitive entries.

In addition to receiving a monetary award, the winners are also invited to publish their papers in the Law Library’s digital scholarship repository, and to feature their papers in the Law Library Display Case.

Chin’s research highlights the intersections of race and sovereignty and raises important questions about shifting conceptions of citizenship, self-determination, racial identity, and indigeneity in the United States. His paper blends legal and academic publications, secondary historical research, archival research and case law from several different courts.  Chin says one of the big discoveries he found while researching for the paper was not only the amount of Cherokee law that was digitally archived online, but also the extent to which the Dawes Rolls and other historical government documents are available through the United States Government Archives. The discovery of these resources allowed him to look at the form and content of the Dawes Rolls, a crucial document for analysis, and even look-up the names of individuals mentioned within the research study. He goes on to say that unlike many other papers he has written, this paper mixes archival research with a case that has yet to reach a final decision in federal court. Therefore his research not only encompassed historical texts, but also included different Google alerts and social media to locate information about the ongoing cases and conflicts to ensure that the case law is up-to-date.

http://www.law.asu.edu/library/2014RecipientsoftheRossBlakleyLawLibraryAwardforExemplaryStudentResearch.aspx

The Future of Food – Building sustainable food systems in indigenous communities – May 1, Heard Museum

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The Future of Food –  Building sustainable food systems in indigenous communities
Heard Museum
Steele Hall,  2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004

Thursday, May 1, 2014
reception in the courtyard: 6:00 p.m.
program: 7:00 p.m.
Public Lecture:
Jim Enote, Director and Curator, Zuni Museum
Poetry Reading: Simon Ortiz, writer and poet
Music Performance: Randy Kemp, artist and musician

For more information contact: joan.mcgregor@asu.edu or rebecca.tsosie@asu.edu.
This event is supported by a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences/IHR Seed Grant, the Global Institute of Sustainability, and the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.

RSVP at: https://ihr.asu.edu/node/1679/register