Read our 2026 Annual Report

We are excited to share the Northwest Center for Indigenous Law’s inaugural annual report.

Over the past few years, the Center has worked hard to ensure we are meeting the needs of all the communities we serve. And while the Center has served our community for over two decades, this report reflects our recent growth. Along the way, we’ve taken time to listen, learn, and better understand what is needed to advance the study and practice of Tribal Nations and Indigenous Law. We know that it takes active listening, research, humility, and raising up a new generation of lawyers who have a deep understanding of and respect for Tribal Nations. Inside, you'll find updates on our academic programs, community partnerships, and the students and communities our work supports. As we continue to strengthen our programs, the Center remains committed to advancing its mission through impactful scholarship, thoughtful advocacy, and strong partnerships with Tribal Nations across the region, all in support of Tribal sovereignty and Indigenous justice.

View the report in fullscreen

 

NCIL works alongside Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, and legal partners to strengthen access to legal resources and advance issues affecting Indigenous Peoples. The Center’s community work includes initiatives focused on estate planning and legal access, Indian Child Welfare Act education and advocacy, professional training, and partnerships that connect legal expertise with the needs of Tribal communities throughout the region.

Follow the links below for more about our Indian community outreach.

Contact us

Northwest Center for Indigenous Law
Sullivan Hall 313
901 12th Avenue
P.O. Box 222000
Seattle, WA 98122
206-398-4084
NCIL@seattleu.edu

Presentations, Advocacy, and Activity

Indigenous Perspectives on AI: Appropriation, Regulation, and Innovation

June 5, 2026

At Seattle U Law’s Annual Innovation and Technology Law Conference, Nazune Menka moderated a panel on cultural appropriation, while Brooke Pinkham led a discussion on Indigenous data sovereignty and the ethics of AI. Together, the sessions explored how law and emerging technologies intersect with Indigenous rights, cultural protection and self-determination.

Professor Nazune Menka teaches at the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) in Albuquerque, NM

June, 2026

Professor Menka taught at PLSI, a free eight-week program administered by the American Indian Law Center (AILC) that prepares American Indian and Alaska Native students for law school through intensive coursework in legal research, writing, and analysis. Now in its 58th year, the program draws students representing Tribes from across the country and is considered one of the most respected Native pre-law programs in the nation. 

Earth Talks 2026

April 22, 2026

At Seattle University’s 2026 Earth Talks, Professor Nazune Menka explored the intersection of Indigenous justice and environmental justice, examining how Jesuit history has shaped Indigenous communities and how Indigenous governance, relationships to land, language and law can inform more just and sustainable futures. Her talk, “Jesuit Histories and Indigenous Futures,” also considered Seattle University’s role in advancing reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenous self-determination.

Federal–State–Tribal Relationship Overview — Washington Democratic Caucus, Olympia

January, 2026

Brooke and Nazune presented at the Washington Legislative Building at the invitation of Senator Claudia Kauffman (47th Legislative District, Nez Perce). The presentation covered foundational principles of Tribal sovereignty. Several Senators expressed interest in drawing on NCIL's expertise for ongoing matters affecting Tribal sovereignty.