Justice is Medicine - NNABA 50th Anniversary Celebration

NNABA’s theme for the 50th anniversary and bar year is “Justice is Medicine.” When NNABA was founded five decades ago, native lawyers were scarce, and Indian law was a nascent practice area. There had never been a Native American federal judge, a native law school dean, or a native officer of the American Bar Association. Despite being the most regulated people in the country, for generations, Native American communities were substantially excluded from leadership in the legal profession and roles within state and federal legal systems. This injustice directly impacted the health and well-being of our communities. Though we have a long journey to achieving inclusion and equity, we know after five decades of determined progress that advancements in inclusion and justice are healing. As we look to NNABA’s next half-century, our commitment is to continue the work.

NNABA’s celebration will include native legal leaders working in different sectors of the profession to share stories about the healing power of native inclusion in the law and the progress made over the last 50 years. NNABA is honored to also welcome Dr. Paulette Steeves as the keynote speaker at our celebration. Dr. Steeves is an archeologist and the Canada Research Chair in Healing and Reconciliation at Algoma University. She recently published The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere. In her book, Dr. Steeves shares scientific research disrupting colonial narratives regarding native settlement of the Americas that have long been used to justify and perpetuate injustice. NNABA has partnered with Dr. Steeves and the University of Nebraska Press to offer a book signing and free book to the first 50 guests at the event. The Howeya Family Traditional Dance Group of the Acoma Pueblo will open and close our program with ceremonial performances.

Please join us, and if you can, consider a sponsorship to support this special event and NNABA’s important work throughout the FY23-24 bar year.

For questions or to commit to a sponsorship, please contact NNABA at info@nativeamericanbar.org.