About
The Mitchell Hamline Native American Law Students Association (MH NALSA) is a network of primarily Native Americans who are law students offering academic and Tribal culture support services. NALSA also includes allies interested in the field of Native American law. In an era of asserting Tribal Nation laws and jurisdiction, the membership maintains strong community relations while working toward cross-cultural understanding.
The Mitchell Hamline Native American Law Students Association chapter has a strong local connection to the Minnesota Native American Bar Association (MNABA), which sponsors CLEs and maintains community for Native lawyers in the Minnesota area. MH NALSA also maintains a national network with chapters from other law schools, as well as Tribal Nations and Tribal individuals.
Membership is open to any interested current Mitchell Hamline student and individual dues are not required.
2026–2027 NALSA officers
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- President: Laura Dorn (Red Lake Band of Chippewa)
- Vice President: Cat Bartlett (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)
- Co-Treasurer: Case Guinn (Cherokee Nation and Delaware Tribe of Indians)
- Co-Treasurer: Elizabeth Kar
- Secretary: Elsa Armstrong (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa)
- Events/ Networking Co-Chair: Emma Russell (desc. HoChunk Nation)
- Events/Networking Co-Chair: Maleah Tuttle-Armajo (desc. Lower Brule Sioux Tribe)
- Public Relations Chair: Ryann Unabia (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa )
- Historian: Tashina Emery (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community)
- Native Law Chair: TBD
- 1L BAM Representative: TBD
- 1L Blended Learning Representative: TBD
- Faculty Advisor: Professor Angelique EagleWoman (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation)
Networking organizations
Recent accomplishments and events
2025-2026
- MH NALSA Chapter on August 4, 2025 adopted the updated MH NALSA Constitution and Bylaws.
- August 21, 2025, MH NALSA welcomed the incoming 1Ls at the Welcome Back NALS Reception.
- October 13, 2025, MH NALSA hosted a Dakota Sacred Sites Tour (in person) and an online Cherokee Mask-Making Workshop.
- November 18, 2025, MH NALSA hosted the Native American Professionals Panel: Big Law & Multi-Jurisdictional Practice.
- April 9-10, 2026, 2L and 3L MH NALSA officers and members attended the annual FBA Indian Law Conference and NNALSA Meetings.
2024-2025
- MH NALSA Chapter welcomed the incoming 1Ls at a Meet and Greet on August 20, 2024.
- October 11, 2024, MH NALSA offered the annual Indigenous Peoples Day webinar with on Indigenous Careers in Governance.
- In November 2024, MH NALSA held the annual Rock Your Mocs event.
- On April 16, 2025, MH NALSA held the annual Book Club featuring author Rebecca Nagle, Cherokee Nation, and her book “By the Fire We Carry – The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Lands”.
Stay tuned:
- The 2026–2027 MH NALSA Board has a lot of exciting new goals for the upcoming school year.
- Follow MH NALSA on Facebook for more information.