Given the ongoing, global pandemic, the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program and our partners at the Indigenous Governance Program have decided to move January in Tucson (JIT) 2021 to a fully online format in hopes of accommodating as many people as possible.
From January 4 to 30, JIT 2021 will be live-streamed via the Zoom web conferencing platform. In order to do our part during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reduced the JIT 2021 registration rate to $500 per-course for participants who are not enrolled in a degree program at the University of Arizona.
For three weeks each year, the January in Tucson intensive education session brings together distinguished faculty in the field of Indigenous peoples’ governance and rights, and gives them the opportunity to teach and hold discussions with Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and community members, as well as other individuals interested in Indigenous affairs.
The result is more than just a series of classes on Indigenous topics. JIT courses not only convey important information backed by research and experience in the field, but they allow space for a crucial dialogue to occur between Indigenous peoples from all over the world. This conversation provides new perspectives to familiar challenges, and helps to make JIT a truly unique educational experience.
RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM: How and why do Indigenous nations reclaim effective self-governing power? What is working and where? Our curriculum is based on decades of on-the-ground research, analysis, and case studies by the people who literally wrote the book on Indigenous nation building.
FLEXIBILITY: Do what’s useful for you: take one 3-day January in Tucson class, take several, take online courses, or enroll in a certificate or degree program.
PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING: Meet other tribal professionals and leaders who are working to assert their nations’ sovereignty. Learn from the experiences of other Native nations that are strengthening Indigenous governance.
Save the Date, Giving Tuesday
Save the date for this year’s #GivingTuesday Huerta Scholarship campaign, which supports Native students attending University of Arizona Law!
Thanks to your generosity last year we raised more than $16,700 in support of our Native students! This year our goal is to raise $20,000 in support of Native law students attending University of Arizona Law.
Please invest in the success of Native law students on #GivingTuesday, December 1, 2020. If you are interested in donating today, contact IPLP Assistant Director Justin Boro at justinboro1986@arizona.edu. Our Huerta Scholarship crowdfunding page will go live November 16 and we will announce the launch in our next newsletter!
The Huerta Scholarship was established in 2014 in honor of Judge Lawrence Huerta. Judge Huerta, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, was the first Native American to graduate from University of Arizona Law (class of ’53) and be licensed to practice law in Arizona. Throughout his illustrious career, Judge Huerta worked tirelessly to increase access to education for Native students, promote tribal sovereignty, and lead Native nation building efforts.
Meet the New Class of IPLP Advocates
The faculty and staff at University of Arizona Law's Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program are fortunate for the opportunity to mentor and learn from our newest class of Indigenous advocates. Join us in welcoming the newest class of students to the IPLP Program!
Our new class of Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Professional Studies (MPS), Graduate Certificate (GC), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) students represent one of the most academically and professionally accomplished IPLP classes to date. For the fall 2020 semester the total combined new Native admittees for all of our University of Arizona degree and certificate programs totals 25 students, with 7 students from the Navajo Nation alone!
Our new JD students bring a diverse set of educational, student leadership, and professional experience to the classroom and program.
Ontario Duley is Seneca and grew up in Aurora, Colorado with his mother and four siblings. Prior to attending University of Arizona Law, he attended the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2019. While at University of Denver, he was elected co-president of the undergraduate Native Student Alliance in 2017, 2018, and 2019. As co-president, Ontario worked to make University of Denver a more inclusive community for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous students. In 2019 he received the University of Denver Outstanding Student Award for Outstanding Senior. Before starting law school at University of Arizona Law, he worked in the Colorado Governor’s Office as a staff assistant. Ontario is thrilled to be a student here and to participate as a member of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA).
This is why Ontario chose University of Arizona Law, “It has been a dream of mine to become an attorney since I was in middle school. I see lawyers as advocates who can assist people during their toughest times in a way that no other profession can. I am passionate about advocating for Indigenous peoples and I was drawn to University of Arizona Law because of the incredible Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program. I was fortunate enough to visit the law school and meet current NALSA students in February of 2020. I felt at home right away! I chose University of Arizona Law because I know through IPLP and NALSA I will learn how to be a knowledgeable and capable attorney, while being able to maintain my passion for Indigenous peoples’ advocacy.”
Hayden Godfrey is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and grew up outside of Oklahoma in rural Tulare County as a representative of the Cherokee diaspora in California’s Central Valley. He graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History. Hayden’s studies focused on the intellectual development of international revolutionary and anti-capitalist movements, alongside a double major in Germanic languages, which helped him to unlock greater discourses on political movements outside of literature published primarily from the Anglo-American perspective.
Hayden’s experiences of being immersed in cultures outside of the United States, in particular having spent substantial time in Scandinavia and Iceland, helped Hayden develop the motivation to be a force for positive social change. As a member of the LGBTQ community, this aspect of Hayden’s identity intersects with his Indigenous heritage to inspire belief that we should not settle for the baseline oppression into which we are born. According to Hayden, “all of our actions should strive to plant trees for future generations to enjoy while we erase the obstacles that prevent us from sharing the same qualities of life as our peers.”
Dillon Kim was born and raised in Southeast Michigan. His mother’s family is from Texas and his father is from Korea. Dillon graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied sociology and political science. He was a 2016 recipient of the Bonderman Fellowship and was fortunate to spend the first years after his undergraduate degree traveling across North Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. The Bonderman Fellowship offered a funded opportunity to travel, write, and become immersed in the many communities he came to know. Dillon spent much of 2017 and 2018 in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest documenting and learning about Indigenous governance and the campaigns to protect traditional lands from mining and other extractive operations. After an encuentro in Chiapas, he made friends with the owner of a horse ranch in a small town in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, where he spent some of the most memorable months working as a ranch hand.
Additionally, Dillon has worked for the Universidad de Salamanca and the University of Michigan facilitating a summer abroad program for undergraduate students in Spain. He spent the fall and winter of 2018 volunteering in mutual aid projects for migrants and asylum seekers in Tijuana. During the spring and summer of 2019, he volunteered in Tucson with the humanitarian aid organization No More Deaths. Following these experiences, Dillon enrolled as a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he completed his first year focusing on public international law. He has a great deal of interest in the intersection between domestic and international policy and affairs. Through a legal education he hopes to advance the interests of Indigenous peoples through international law and policy.
Julia Aguilera (Southern Sierra Miwok) was an inquisitive freshman in high school when George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin and the city of Oakland erupted. On the news there were riots, chaos, tear gas, and arrests. To Julia it was obvious that her community was outraged and a revolutionary movement was imminent. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was her introduction to using her voice for a greater purpose. Julia soon learned about social movements from volunteering at BLM services and attending rallies, LGBTQ protests in San Francisco, and Women’s Marches which gave her direction for what to study in college.
Julia studied law and political science at the University of Arizona and she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Law from University of Arizona. She had numerous legal internships that solidified her interest in law. Last year, Julia worked for the Attorney General in the Civil Division Tort Unit. This unit is responsible for defending law enforcement agents against allegations of constitutional violations, mainly the excessive use of force. While this initially seemed to cause an internal conflict for Julia, it turned into a learning opportunity about the issues in our judicial system and sparked a passion in her to further pursue this niche. Because legal knowledge is disproportionately distributed in society, Julia wants to learn more about leveling the playing field and become an advocate for those whose voices are being silenced.
Julia is determined to combat social injustice by serving the public interest, especially those in need of representation.
John Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Law and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Arizona State University in May 2020. He proudly represents the Cherokee Nation and is dedicated to developing projects that will yield rewarding impacts, mentoring others to maximize their success, and becoming involved in meaningful activities that will make a positive difference in communities.
Michelle Pennington received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Washington in June 2020. She proudly represents the Cherokee and Cree Nation and has a fierce determination to help underserved populations who are often overlooked by lack of funds in legal representation. Her goal is to attain a well-rounded law degree with an emphasis on tribal law, environmental law, and criminal defense.
Amanda Niemann completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Amanda completed her degree early and began law school at University of Arizona Law at the age of 19. Amanda was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She is of Navajo Nation heritage.
After doing an internship with a magistrate and judge in the Suffolk County Family Court, along with her own personal experience growing up, she found her passion to be an advocate for children. “I am particularly interested in becoming an investigative attorney with Child Protective Services or a Family Court judge. I am also very interested in Indigenous peoples’ law and would like to do legal work to advocate for Native tribes. I plan on visiting the Navajo reservation to learn even more about my heritage while I am here in Arizona,” said Amanda.
Our new cohort of IPLP graduate students brings an impressive mix of professional accomplishments and a firm commitment to IPLP’s mission to protect and promote indigenous peoples' rights and increase the representation of Native and indigenous lawyers and advocates within the practice of law and legal academia.
Originally from the Kikuyu Tribe in Kenya, Wangari Kiboi is a result-driven professional with legal training (Bachelor of Laws from Africa Nazarene University) and a Master in Development Policy from the Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management. She is an environmental enthusiast, an activist, and a social entrepreneur. She has worked and gained experience in both Kenya and South Korea in the field of human rights and development. Her passion lies in African development and the advancement of Indigenous people’s rights and culture. She believes strongly that each community, each culture, has something unique and invaluable to contribute to humanity as a whole and that this must be protected and advanced. Wangari is also the co-founder of a community-based organization, called Eden’s Stewards, that seeks to address environmental and social injustice in her community in Kenya. As a student at University of Arizona Law, she is delighted to be surrounded by a community of people researching and developing new legal strategies for advancing Indigenous peoples’ rights globally.
Susan Filan has been practicing law in Connecticut for nearly thirty years and is a seasoned litigator, negotiator, and mediator in criminal and family law. She is a former state prosecutor and special public defender having tried murder cases and cold cases, as well as second chair for the defense on a Federal death penalty case in which the defendant received life sentence.
She is a former on-air MSNBC senior legal analyst and NBC News legal analyst and has covered high profile cases such as Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, David Letterman, Tiger Woods, Jon Benet Ramsey, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Bernie Madoff. She has appeared on every major network and cable news channel and has been quoted in print media around the world.
Susan is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the State of Connecticut.
Susan has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and a JD from Quinnipiac University. She worked for the Native American Rights Fund in Washington, D.C. after completing her undergraduate degree. She has a lifelong interest in Native American cultures, history, languages, and legal issues. Attending the IPLP Program at University of Arizona Law is the culmination of her dream.
Susan has two daughters in college who she loves with all her heart. She has a lifelong love of horses and being at sea and her purpose is to anchor peace on earth, right the wrongs, and heal the injustices.
Alumni Profile
University of Arizona Law alumna Mia Hammersley published a chapter in the University of Arizona Press Series Indigenous Environmental Justice. Her chapter is titled, “The Water-Energy Nexus and Environmental Justice: the Missing Link Between Water Rights and Energy Production on Tribal Lands." Using the closure of the Navajo generating station as a case study, the chapter discusses the environmental justice implications of the link between water and energy production in the Southwest and makes a case for tribally controlled renewable energy development. She is also the author of a number of publications on climate change, social-ecological systems, and river restoration through dam removal.
Mia Montoya Hammersley is a 2018 IPLP graduate and of Tigua and Yoeme descendant. Before law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Franklin University in Lugano, Switzerland and a Master of Science in Water, Society, and Policy from the University of Arizona. Mia made the decision to attend law school after researching tribal water rights in her graduate program, which reinforced her growing passion for Indigenous environmental justice, intersectional environmentalism, and equitable water governance. In law school, she served as the Secretary of the Native American Law Students Association, President of the Environmental Law Society, Editor-in-Chief of the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, and was a founding member of the Justice Advocates Coalition.
After graduating from law school, she moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as the Healthy Communities Fellow with Earthjustice, working on behalf of communities that bear a disproportionate share of environmental health harms and contributing to federal environmental litigation. After completing her fellowship, she returned to Arizona as an Associate Attorney with Montgomery & Interpreter, PLC, a boutique law firm focused in the areas of tribal law, water policy, environmental and natural resources, land use policy, and outdoor recreation. In this role, she acted as counsel of record in Arizona’s General Stream Adjudication and assisted tribal clients with securing and using their federal reserved and aboriginal water rights, protecting their natural resources, and safeguarding sacred and religious sites. Mia is currently taking a leave of absence from the firm to complete a judicial clerkship with the Honorable David K. Thomson with the New Mexico Supreme Court.
When not engaged in legal work, Mia enjoys reading, connecting with the land through biking and running, cooking family recipes, and rehabilitating her pre-law school classical music practice.
Connect with IPLP
Please send an email about your professional accomplishments, awards, updates about your advocacy work, and new additions to your family for the next IPLP Newsletter or if you have updates to your contact information to LAW-IPLP@email.arizona.edu.
If you are interested in connecting with our students or volunteering to assist with student recruitment, please contact: Justin Boro, Assistant Director, at justinboro1986@arizona.edu or 520-626-9224.
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University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program
Ontario Duley is Seneca and grew up in Aurora, Colorado with his mother and four siblings. Prior to attending University of Arizona Law, he attended the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2019. While at University of Denver, he was elected co-president of the undergraduate Native Student Alliance in 2017, 2018, and 2019. As co-president, Ontario worked to make University of Denver a more inclusive community for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous students. In 2019 he received the University of Denver Outstanding Student Award for Outstanding Senior. Before starting law school at University of Arizona Law, he worked in the Colorado Governor’s Office as a staff assistant. Ontario is thrilled to be a student here and to participate as a member of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA).
Hayden Godfrey is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and grew up outside of Oklahoma in rural Tulare County as a representative of the Cherokee diaspora in California’s Central Valley. He graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History. Hayden’s studies focused on the intellectual development of international revolutionary and anti-capitalist movements, alongside a double major in Germanic languages, which helped him to unlock greater discourses on political movements outside of literature published primarily from the Anglo-American perspective.
Dillon Kim was born and raised in Southeast Michigan. His mother’s family is from Texas and his father is from Korea. Dillon graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied sociology and political science. He was a 2016 recipient of the Bonderman Fellowship and was fortunate to spend the first years after his undergraduate degree traveling across North Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. The Bonderman Fellowship offered a funded opportunity to travel, write, and become immersed in the many communities he came to know. Dillon spent much of 2017 and 2018 in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest documenting and learning about Indigenous governance and the campaigns to protect traditional lands from mining and other extractive operations. After an encuentro in Chiapas, he made friends with the owner of a horse ranch in a small town in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, where he spent some of the most memorable months working as a ranch hand. 
Julia Aguilera (Southern Sierra Miwok) was an inquisitive freshman in high school when George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin and the city of Oakland erupted. On the news there were riots, chaos, tear gas, and arrests. To Julia it was obvious that her community was outraged and a revolutionary movement was imminent. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was her introduction to using her voice for a greater purpose. Julia soon learned about social movements from volunteering at BLM services and attending rallies, LGBTQ protests in San Francisco, and Women
John Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Law and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Arizona State University in May 2020. He proudly represents the Cherokee Nation and is dedicated to developing projects that will yield rewarding impacts, mentoring others to maximize their success, and becoming involved in meaningful activities that will make a positive difference in communities.
Amanda Niemann completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Amanda completed her degree early and began law school at University of Arizona Law at the age of 19. Amanda was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She is of Navajo Nation heritage.
Originally from the Kikuyu Tribe in Kenya, Wangari Kiboi is a result-driven professional with legal training (Bachelor of Laws from Africa Nazarene University) and a Master in Development Policy from the Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management. She is an environmental enthusiast, an activist, and a social entrepreneur. She has worked and gained experience in both Kenya and South Korea in the field of human rights and development. Her passion lies in African development and the advancement of Indigenous people’s rights and culture. She believes strongly that each community, each culture, has something unique and invaluable to contribute to humanity as a whole and that this must be protected and advanced. Wangari is also the co-founder of a community-based organization, called Eden’s Stewards, that seeks to address environmental and social injustice in her community in Kenya. As a student at University of Arizona Law, she is delighted to be surrounded by a community of people researching and developing new legal strategies for advancing Indigenous peoples’ rights globally.
Susan Filan has been practicing law in Connecticut for nearly thirty years and is a seasoned litigator, negotiator, and mediator in criminal and family law. She is a former state prosecutor and special public defender having tried murder cases and cold cases, as well as second chair for the defense on a Federal death penalty case in which the defendant received life sentence. 
University of Arizona Law alumna Mia Hammersley published a chapter in the University of Arizona Press Series Indigenous Environmental Justice. Her chapter is titled, “The Water-Energy Nexus and Environmental Justice: the Missing Link Between Water Rights and Energy Production on Tribal Lands." Using the closure of the Navajo generating station as a case study, the chapter discusses the environmental justice implications of the link between water and energy production in the Southwest and makes a case for tribally controlled renewable energy development. She is also the author of a number of publications on climate change, social-ecological systems, and river restoration through dam removal.
