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.

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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