United Natives Mentors - Law and Policy

Tribal Affiliation and Ethnic/Racial Background: Citizen Potawatomi Nation and Irish Current Position: Professor of Law, University of California-Los Angeles Director, UCLA Native Nations Law and Policy Center Degree(s): B.A.-University of Oklahoma J.D.-Harvard Law School Area of Focus: American Indian Law Tribal Law Indigenous Rights Cultural Property Native Governance Biography: Angela R. Riley is Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and Director of UCLA's Native Nations Law and Policy Center. She directs the J.D./M.A. joint degree program in Law and American Indian Studies and is the UCLA campus representative on issues related to repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Professor Riley's research focuses on indigenous peoples’ rights, with a particular emphasis on cultural property and Native governance. Her work has been published in the  Yale Law Journal ,  Columbia Law...

Tribal Affiliation and Ethnic/Racial Background: Enrolled member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and of Greek descent Current Position: Sole practitioner with my own professional limited liability company Degree(s): Juris Doctor - William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas B.A. - Political Science (Minor in Criminal Justice) from the Honors College at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Area of Focus: Federal Indian Law Tribal law What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals? After working for my tribe, and attending meetings involving other tribes, I decided that I wanted to see more Native representation in the legal profession. In other words, I wanted Indian country to have an increased opportunity to be represented by its own people. What steps did you take to achieve those goals? I decided to go to law school in order to be able to practice in federal Indian law and tribal law. Describe any obstacles or barriers that you encountered...