The Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center (GLILC) was established in 1992 to improve the practical legal skills of all students interested in Federal Indian Law while providing a legal resource for Native Nations. Eleven federally recognized Native Nations are surrounded by the State of Wisconsin, including six bands of Chippewa and Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Menominee, and Mohican (Stockbridge-Munsee) Tribes. The Clinic's proximity to these Native Nations, the quality of our students, and an institutional commitment to "law in action" create a synergistic effect that is truly unique in the study of Federal Indian Law. The University of Wisconsin Law School has graduated more practicing Indian lawyers than any other school in the country, and many if not most of those alumni have benefitted from the initiatives and programs sponsored by the Center.

The Center is chartered to:

  1. Provide an academic and educational atmosphere and opportunity for law students to study Federal, State, and Native Nation laws affecting Native Nations and their citizens.
  2. Provide legal assistance on uniquely Native Nation legal matters.
  3. Encourage and assist Native American students in obtaining a well-rounded legal education focusing not only on Federal Indian Law, but all fields and specialties in the law, including myriad unique legal matters confronting Native Nations.

The Center's vision is to:

"Advance the Wisconsin Idea by connecting Law in Action to Native Nations and Native organizations throughout Wisconsin and the nation, and to indigenous peoples throughout the world."

The Center's strategic priorities are:

  1. Improve access to the legal system.
  2. Broaden connections with Native Nations and Native Organizations.
  3. Promote a government-to-government relationship between the State of Wisconsin and Native Nations that is a model for others to emulate.

The Center's guiding principles are:

  1. Government-to-Government relations between the United States and Wisconsin and Native Nations
  2. Legal Partnerships with Native Nations whenever possible.
  3. Achieve Educational Quality & Community Relevance.
  4. Provide a well-rounded legal education focusing not only on Federal Indian Law but on myriad specialties and areas of expertise confronting today's Native Nations.

For more information on upcoming activities, or for information on the Law School experience at Wisconsin, contact the Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center at 608-262-1699 or Amanda White Eagle at amanda.whiteeagle@wisc.edu.

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