Native American Bar Association of Arizona

The Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) was founded in 2007 to improve the practice of Indian law and provide support for native lawyers (both current attorneys and prospective students).

Indicative of its thoughtful and intentional nature, the original five board members of NABA-AZ spent a year in planning meetings before the group was officially launched in February of 2007. Marnie Hodahkwen (Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation), Kerry Patterson (Seneca Nation), Patty Ferguson Bonhee (Pointe-au-Chien Indian tribe), Linda Benally (Navajo Nation), Denten Robinson (Navajo Nation), and Rodney Lewis (Gila River Indian Community) held planning meetings in Ms. Bennally’s office at Arizona Public Service beginning in January 2006 with the goal of creating an organization that would best serve native attorneys and the communities they came from. These five original founders recognized that there was a tension between the only existing bar association on native affairs, the Indian Law Section, and native peoples. The Indian Law Section represented all attorneys practicing Indian law rather than specifically supporting pro-sovereignty/pro-tribe practitioners. The Indian Law Section also had no support systems in place for native attorneys not practicing Indian law. Thus the idea for NABA-AZ was born.

The original founders unanimously agreed that Mr. Lewis was the perfect choice for incorporator. Having been the first and only native attorney to argue in front of the United States Supreme Court (and won, no less!), Mr. Lewis was an incredible mentor to dozens of other native attorneys and a true advocate of native rights; he was the true embodiment of what NABA-AZ hoped to achieve.

NABA-AZ has three main goals: 1. Create educational opportunities for native practitioners and those who wish to join the practice; 2. Raise visibility of native attorneys and create a support network to help them succeed; and 3. Support native law students. Throughout the year, NABA-AZ puts on various continuing legal education programs on topics that affect the native community and the attorneys who identify as Native American. It also works closely with Arizona State University to support the Indian Legal Program and Indian Legal Clinic.

NABA-AZ’s largest event of the year, the Seven Generations Dinner, recognizes legal scholars who have made tremendous contributions to Indian law and natives who have given back to their communities. It is also a major source of fundraising for arguably the most important outreach portion of NABA-AZ: its scholarship fund. Every year, aspiring native lawyers can apply for these scholarships to help make their dreams of attending law school a reality.

Another important project that NABA-AZ facilitates is the Arizona Native Vote Protection Project. Attorney members of NABA-AZ go out into Indian country every election cycle and assist residents with voting – answering questions about the process, providing logistical support, and encouraging participation. NABA-AZ also provides support to judges (from both inside and outside the native community) who are interested in advancing the rights of the indigenous community, many of whom are recognized each year during the Seven Generations Dinner.

NABA-AZ is open to both tribal members and non-tribal members. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.naba-az.com/.