I am a third year law student at the University of Maine School
of Law in Portland, Maine. As a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe
at Indian Township, I am extremely proud of my Indian heritage.
For the past three years, only two "federally
recognized" Indian students have attended UME Law (I'm one of them).
The fact that UME Law offers NO academic programs on Indian Law
discourages Indian students from attending. Law schools aren't
exactly swarming with Indian students to begin with.
I myself had a choice of attending either the University of New Mexico
School of Law (UNM) or the University of Maine School of Law (UME).
Even though I would have received a much more in-depth immersion
into Indian Law at UNM, I chose to stay in Maine, my birthplace, and
attend UME Law.
It would have been so much easier for me to go to New Mexico and
leave behind Maine's negativity toward Indians. But I have never been one
to take the easy road. I decided that I could make more of an
impact by staying here and trying to change
things.
During the Spring 1997 semester, I organized a group study
course in Federal Indian Law, which was composed of eight
students. During the group study, we tried our best
to fit
hundreds of years of federal Indian policy into 14 weekly
one-hour
classes. Impossible. But at least we made a dent. The paper I
wrote on
Native American Spirituality in Prison came about
as a result of organizing this class.
For three years I have also been Co-President of UME Law's chapter
of the Native
American Law Students Association (NALSA). Our goal for
the 1997-98 academic year is to create a list of UME Law Indian
Alumni and try to establish a mentorship program between the
alums and Indian law students. If we are able to do this, then
at least UME Law's future Indian students will have somewhere
to turn when the oppressive atmosphere gets to be too much to
handle.
During the summer of 1997, I was asked to join a student multicultural
advisory
committee at the University of Southern Maine (USM). The committee
is made up of American Indian, Chicano, African American, and Asian
American students. We're trying to increase the awareness and
sensitivity of the University to the needs and contributions of
students of color.
UME doesn't have such a great track record when it comes to
dealing with this "issue." Read about a relatively
recent discrimination suit that was filed by a Passamaquoddy
woman against UME,
here. At least USM appears to be taking steps to remedy
the problem. Last year, Rebecca Sockbeson of the Penobscot
Nation (Old Town, Maine) was hired as USM's multicultural affairs
coordinator. Rebecca has been working long and hard trying to
get all of us rounded up and in one room at the same time. The
student multicultural advisory committee is definitely a step
in the right direction.
In closing, all I can do is reach out to Indian students across
this country and ask for their help in changing the status quo
in Maine. UME Law's lack of an Indian Law curriculum
will probably not change unless enough people raise their voices
to demand it. I wish I had more time to actively try to recruit
Indian students to attend UME Law. As I've said, it's not an
easy road to take. But as long as Indian students continue
to pursue their legal educations out west where the Indian
Law programs are renowned, UME Law will continue to suffer.
Please contact UME Law's Admissions Department if you are
interested in receiving an academic catalog and application for admission.
The above Indian art work is by Dana Tiger Creek Tribe, Muscogee Nation
Click on the picture to see a larger view and a description
|