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UCLA NALSA is Hosting the 6th Annual National NALSA Writing Competition!
Minimum Awards:

• 1st Place: $2,000 and publishing in the Indigenous Peoples' Journal of Law, Culture & Resistance
• 2nd Place: $1,000
• 3rd Place: $500

More Information
Competition Flyer
Competition Rules

2006-2007 NALSA Officers

Naomi Bebo, (President)
Chastity Bedonie, (Vice-President)
Marilyn Phelps, (Secretary)
Lorraine Aguilar, (Treasurer)
Nathan Morris, (3L Representative)
James Kirkpatrick, (4L/Joint Degree Program Representative)

November 7, 2006 NALSA Statement

NALSA was outraged and disheartened to learn that the racial insensitivities that continue to plague our community have arisen in the form of the Moot Court problem.  We condemn the sentiments behind the hypothetical. 

At the Community Talk-In, NALSA members cried along with La Raza and other sister organization because we have shared their feelings of anguish and isolation.  To see the racial insensitivity seen in last year’s Scrivener manifested again in such a tangible way the Moot Court Problem and the “Scrivenator” has demonstrated to us that this feeling of alienation is not in our heads.  It is a reality deliberately created by others within our society who find their power in oppression.  Racial insensitivity is a problem that we recognize as extending beyond just the Scrivener and Moot Court.  This is a social ill that has been perpetuated by certain areas of this institution, whether through ignorance or complacency, that have sought to target people of color and their allies over the past few years. 

We, the NALSA family, want to express our deepest apologies for not joining La Raza and other students of color organizations in the letter of solidarity sent to Dean Schill.  We want the People of Color community to know that NALSA stands here in support to share tears, words, and action. 

In an effort to continue encouraging education and awareness, NALSA proposes to conduct a series of panel discussions on racial stereotypes.  We invite and hope the Critical Race Studies program and other student groups on campus, primarily BLSA, APILSA, La Raza, that have felt similarly effected will join our efforts.

Standing in strong support,
The NALSA family

Welcome Message to Incoming 1Ls

Ahniin to all incoming American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Law Students!

Greetings from the UCLA Native American Law Students Association!

The first meeting for NALSA was on August 31st, but in case you missed it, we wanted to make you aware of some resources available to you. NALSA has an office on the 2nd floor, which you may get a key for, hang out in, use the computer, store your lunches, study, etc. Also, many current and previous NALSA students have donated or loaned textbooks and studyguides to NALSA. These are stored in the NALSA office, and you may check out a book for the semester. If you've seen the price of books at LuValle, this might be a welcome option for you.

If you would like a tour of the NALSA office and get a key for it, please contact one of the NALSA officers above. One or more NALSA members will take you on a tour of the office and procure a key for you.

More Information and Resources:

We have a site for you to chat, exchange info on MySpace Groups in the interim at http://groups.myspace.com/nalsa

Some dates to keep on your calendars:

• September 8, 2006: National NALSA 3rd Annual Job Fair -- Washington D.C. (for 2L and above)
  
• October 1-5, 2006: National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 63rd Annual Convention, www.ncai.org, Sacramento, California
  
• October 3, 2006: American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program Orientation for New Graduate Students (9-11am) and Lunch (11-12) at AISC
  
• October 22-23, 2006: 5-year Site Review of American Indian Studies Center
  
• October 28, 2006: California Indian Law Association Conference @ Stanford Law School. www.calindianlaw.org
  
• November 19 2006: Registration for 2007 NNALSA Moot Court Due
  
• January 5, 2007: Brief submissions for 2007 NNALSA Moot Court Due
  
• February 3, 2007: UCLA Public Interest Career Day
  
• February 16-17, 2007: National NALSA Moot Court Competition, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
  
• April 19-20, 2007: 32nd Annual Indian Law Conference ("FedBar") -- Albuquerque, New Mexico
  
• May 2007 (TBA): UCLA Annual Powwow

Useful Links:
National Native American Law Students Association http://www.nationalnalsa.org/

There are many resources that are emailed to Native students from Dwight Youpee (dyoupee@ucla.edu) and Duane Champagne (champagn@ucla.edu). It would be worthwhile for you to email them both and ask to be added to their email lists. Dwight is the Student Affairs Officer at the American Indian Studies Center (http://www.aisc.ucla.edu/CntrHome.html). The AISC is located in Campbell Hall, just a couple of buildings away from the Law School.

UCLA American Indian Programs and Groups:

• American Indian Studies Center (AISC), Interim Director Hanay Geiogamah (Kiowa/Delaware), 3rd Floor of Campbell Hall, http://www.aisc.ucla.edu/CntrHome.html
  
• American Indian Graduate Students Association (AIGSA), contact katidias@ucla.edu for more information
  
• American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), 3137 Engineering I (310) 206-6493
  
• American Indian Student Association (AISA), General Meetings held Mondays at 5:30 in 3201 Campbell Hall and open to the public, http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/americanindian/
  
• American Indian Recruitment (AIR), 106 Student Activities Center, http://www.sioc.ucla.edu/main.asp?nav=projects&nav=AIR (Programs for tutoring youth at the American Indian Clubhouse in Los Angeles (Tuesday evenings) and the Southern California Indian Center (Wednesday evenings))
  
• Retention of American Indians Now (RAIN), http://www.studentretentioncenter.ucla.edu/main.asp?nav=projects&nav=RAIN (opportunities for peer counseling, academic and cultural workshops)
  
• Interdeparmental Program in American Indian Studies ("IDP"), Chair - Dr. Felicia Hodge (Wailaki), fhodge@sonnet.ucla.edu
  
• Joint Degree Program in Law & American Indian Studies, Director - Carole Goldberg, goldberg@law.ucla.edu, 310-825-4429, Office: LAW 3101
  
• Tribal Legal Center & Educational Exchange (TLCEE), Director - DeAnna Rivera (Boriken Taino), rivera@law.ucla.edu, (310)-794-5216, http://www.law.ucla.edu/home/index.asp?page=1981
  
• TLCEE Blog: http://weblog.law.ucla.edu/tlcee/
  * Tribal Legal Development Clinic, Director - Pat Sekaquaptewa (Hopi), sekaquaptewa@law.ucla.edu, 310-825-1744, Office: LAW 2499 (Clinic Wing, 2nd Floor)

If you have any questions, concerns, need help with anything, or just want to chat, please feel free to contact any of us.

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