Native American law week at University of Montana

The University of Montana Native American Law Students Association will host its annual Indian Law Week, Monday through Friday, April 13-17. This year’s theme is “Law, Culture and the Environment.”

During the week NALSA will host lunches with speakers who will discuss a variety of topics impacting tribal communities. These sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. April 13, 14, 15 and 17, in Law Building Room 101 on the UM campus. The lunch discussions are free and open to the public.

Continuing Legal Education will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Holiday Inn Downtown Missoula, located at 200 S. Pattee St. This event also will include several guest speakers from across the state and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 office. It is co-sponsored by the Montana State Bar’s Indian Law Section.

“The Indian Law Week program will highlight how environmental concerns and the law often overlap with Native advocacy and cultural preservation. We’ve focused on creating an agenda that will demonstrate just how interesting and relevant Indian law can be,” said Christina Courville, president of the Montana NALSA chapter. “The speakers on the program have a wide range of experiences to share, and we are fortunate to bring them to Missoula.”

Courville said students, practitioners and tribal stakeholders are encouraged to attend throughout the week. 

            A reception, silent auction and presentation of the Mi-Ha-Ka-Ta-Kis (Ray Cross) and NALSA Teaching Awards will follow the CLE from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 16. Attorney Urban Bear Don’t Walk and School of Law Library Director Stacey Gordon will be honored at the event. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for students.

            For more information or to register for the CLE, visit NALSA’s Facebook page online at https://www.facebook.com/MontanaNALSA, call Courville at 406-243-4311 or email christina.courville@umontana.edu.