Native American Law Students Association

Mission Statement
The purpose of NALSA is to promote awareness within the University of Denver community of legal, political, and social issues affecting Native Americans and other indigenous peoples.

NALSA also seeks to provide a forum for these discussions as well as to serve as a resource from which work can be done to assist Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples in asserting and protecting their legal rights.

With over 40 Native American students and many others interested in the field, we truly have a vibrant community here at the Sturm College of Law. The DU Native American Law Students Association is one of our most active student groups. NALSA plans guest speakers, cultural events, and participates in the local Indian community. DU NALSA students also serve on the board of National NALSA and compete in its annual Moot Court competition.

Officers

President: Aleela Taylor

Vice-President: Megan Uren

Treasurer: Cora Weatherford

Secretary: Isabel Dufford

By-Laws

I. Article I – Purpose

i. NALSA will promote unity and cooperation among all Native American law students at the University of Denver, College of Law, and will provide a basis for which work can be done for the advancement of Native Americans.

II. Article II – Membership

i. The membership of NALSA shall consist of any student enrolled at the University of Denver, College of Law (DU) who pays the required membership dues. Membership shall be open to any American Indian, Alaska Native or, Hawaiian Native or, any other student currently enrolled at the DU. An American Indian, Alaska Native or Hawaiian Native is a person who is a descendant of a member, and recognized by his or her native community.

III. Article III – Meetings

i. Section I. Meetings.

Meetings of NALSA will be held the first and third week of every month, unless otherwise deemed necessary by the president of NALSA, or its members.

ii. Section II. Special Meetings.

The President shall call, when necessary, a special meeting for any purpose or purposes. Special meetings shall be called by the President at the request
of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Membership entitled to vote at the meeting.

iii. Section III. Notice of Meetings.

Written or permitted notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than three (3) days before the date of the meeting, received by the secretary with the President’s approval. The President may consult his or her Officers. Meetings are absolutely necessary for any transaction of business that NALSA represents, no business may be transacted in the event that less than one-third (1/3) of the members entitled to vote there at shall be represented at the meeting.

IV. Article IV – Elections

i. Members shall be entitled to vote on any and all matters including but limited to officer elections. Each member’s vote shall constitute one (1) vote at any and all elections, or transactions of any business that NALSA represents.

ii. Upon the demand of any member, the vote for officers and upon any questions before the meeting shall be by ballot. All elections for officers and all other questions shall be decided by simple majority vote of such members present or represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present or represented.

V. Article V – Resolutions

i. A member may propose a resolution to be voted on at a meeting of the members by submitting to the Secretary a written copy of the proposed resolution, at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

ii. The Secretary shall provide a written copy of the full text of any proposed resolution to the members with the notice of the meeting at which the resolution will be acted upon.

iii. A resolution shall be approved upon majority vote of the members.

iv. No resolution which conflicts with the Articles of these by-laws shall be valid.

VI. Article VI – Officers

i. Vacancies for Officers shall be restricted to members. There shall be six (6) officers elected to fill the office of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, SBA Rep. and Coordinator. Duties of these officers may vary.

VII. Article VII – Removal of Officer(s) or Member(s)

i. Removal of any officer or member will be accomplished by an affirmative vote of three-quarters (3/4) of all NALSA members.

VIII. Article VIII – Constitution

i. These by-laws will function as the binding Constitution of DU NALSA. The membership of the DU NALSA reserves the right to amend or abolish some or all of these bylaws at any time it deems necessary.

We hereby certify that these by-laws were lawfully adopted by the general membership of the Native American Law Students Association. Furthermore, we certify that these by-laws are in full force and effext as of the date of June 10, 2004.

Links

• Colorado Indian Bar Association
• National Indian Law Library
• National Native American Law Students Association
• Native American Rights Fund
• News: Indianz.com & Indian Country Today

“Like the miner’s canary, the Indian marks the shifts from fresh air to poison gas in our political atmosphere; and our treatment of Indians, even more than our treatment of other minorities, reflects the rise and fall in our democratic faith…”