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Northwest Indian lawyers award scholarships
Wednesday, January 12, 2005

The Northwest Indian Bar Association (NIBA) recently awarded $6,500 in scholarships to Northwest Native law students as part of an ongoing effort to support Indian students seeking a legal education.

Since 2003, NIBA and its sister group, the Washington State Bar Association Indian Law Section, have raised and donated nearly $40,000 in scholarships to aspiring Indian lawyers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

“NIBA is excited and grateful to be in a position to support Northwest Native law students, financially and otherwise,” said NIBA President Lael Echohawk, reservation counsel for the Tulalip Tribes and a member of the Pawnee Tribe. “The Indian Legal Scholars Program awards acknowledge the students’ demonstrated commitment to Indian Country and showcase the Northwest tribal bar’s pride in our future Indian lawyers.”

In December 2004, the following Native law students were awarded scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Marvin Beauvais (Navajo/Crow), a third-year student at Gonzaga Law School and President and Co-Founder of the school’s Native American Law Students’ Association (NALSA) chapter;

Michael Douglas (Haida), a second-year student at the University of Washington School of Law and Treasurer of UW’s NALSA chapter, who will be interning with the Native American Rights Fund this summer;

Malena Pinkham (Grand Ronde), a second-year UW law student and Vice President of UW NALSA, and alumnus of the Pre-Law Summer Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Lisa Koop (Delaware), a third-year student at Seattle University Law School and former member of the Canadian National Women’s Basketball Team;

Brooke Pinkham (Nez Perce), a first-year UW law student and former social worker for the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation;

Nicole Royal (Athabascan), a first-year UW law student from Alaska and former intern for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee; and

Ryan Gunn (Colville), a second-year UW law student and alumnus of the Pre-Law Summer Institute.

Although NIBA and the Indian Law Section have long supported law students through financial assistance, the organizations’ recent scholarship donations represent their largest contributions to date.

Relevant Links:
Northwest Indian Bar Association - http://www.nwiba.org
Washington State Bar Association - http://www.wsba.org

Related Stories:
Indian law will be added to Washington bar exam (10/25)
Indian law proposed for Washington bar exam (10/22)
Four Native lawyers in top posts for Wash. bar (02/20)
Groups encouraging Indians to enter legal field (09/09)
Indian lawyer association says ranks growing (08/27)

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