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Greetings,

Happy Juneteenth! At University of Arizona Law, we honor this day by reaffirming our commitment to justice, equality and inclusion. Join us in commemorating Juneteenth by reflecting on its historical impact and continuing the work to build a more just and equitable society for all.

This week’s newsletter includes interviews with two members of the class of 2024, Shania Kee (JD) and Mele Moniz (SJD). While their motivations for coming to law school are similar, they are pursuing unique paths to promote Indigenous sovereignty.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

Meet Shania Kee and Mele Moniz, two members of the Class of 2024 who were drawn to University of Arizona Law because of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) program.

Name: Shania L. Kee (Navajo (Diné)) 

Degree: JD 

Hometown: Piñon, AZ 

Undergrad: Dartmouth College 

What motivated you to pursue a degree in law?  

The simple answer is that I love learning. In 2020, I was taking law classes at Navajo Technical University because of my interest in the Navajo Legal System. My professors at the time planted the seed that I should go to law school. I never really thought about law school before that, but coming from a small community where there are many elders who do not understand the law or have any idea about the different legal systems—federal, state and tribal—motivated me to pursue a degree in law.  

Why did you choose University of Arizona Law?   

Being Diné and from Arizona, I chose Arizona Law due to the classes offered by the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program. The courses not only covered domestic tribal law, but there was also a focus on international law. I also wanted the opportunity to be taught by professors such as Rebecca Tsosie and Melissa Tatum.  

What area of law are you planning to specialize in, and what influenced this choice?  

When I was a 1L, I learned about the concept of Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov), which is the right of Indigenous Nations to govern their own data. Most people might think that IDSov is only relevant in the health sphere, but it implicates the legal sphere heavily in the United States. Due to my interest in IDSov, I am planning to specialize in federal Indian law or tribal law or intellectual property. These specialties intersect in a way that is becoming increasingly important for tribes and those who work with tribes to think carefully about protecting and asserting legal rights over Indigenous/Traditional Knowledge. 

How do you hope to make a difference in the legal field or in society through your career?  

I hope to make a difference in the legal field or in society by working with communities and listening to them to create positive change and protecting their rights. 

What was your favorite school experience or extracurricular activity, and why?  

Arizona Law Ambassadors. The program that Ruben Fierros, the Director of Admissions, created has allowed me to share my experiences with potential and incoming students, which I feel like I would not have been able to do if I was not part of the program in a consistent way. We also help with different events at the law school, which has given me opportunities to talk to different alumni.  

What are you most proud of while at Arizona Law?  

I am most proud of my experience with the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law as a 2L writer and as a Senior Managing Editor. My work with AJICL has been demanding but rewarding. It has been especially rewarding to help our journal members through the publishing process and seeing our work pay off when we publish an issue. In addition, I am proud that my note was selected to be published in Volume 41 of AJICL, which will be out sometime soon.  

Name: Melemaikalani “Mele” Moniz 

Degree: Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) 

Hometown: Kailua, Hawaii 

LLM: The University of Oregon School of Law 

JD: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law 

Undergrad: Marist College 

What motivated you to pursue a degree in law, and how has that motivation evolved throughout your time in law school? 

I am Native Hawaiian or Kānaka ‘Ōiwi. As a Kānaka ‘Ōiwi, I grew up knowing that I have a kuleana or sacred reciprocal responsibility to my lāhui or nation to help ensure our survival. Initially, I chose to pursue a JD to utilize the legal system to assist my lāhui. However, after understanding the implications of systemic racism within the settler system as denoting an intrinsically racist system, I opted to pursue an LLM and SJD to ascertain alternative means for liberation. 

Why did you choose University of Arizona Law?  

I chose the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law because of the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP). In my previous studies, I hadn't had the opportunity to study under Indigenous professors. Although I had classes with other Indigenous students, we had not discussed nor studied the effects of legal systems on different Indigenous Peoples around the world. As such, the opportunity to study law with a multitude of Indigenous perspectives compelled me to pursue the IPLP program above all else. 

Can you tell us about your dissertation? 

In my dissertation, I am exploring equitable changes to laws and policies affecting the mind, body and spirit of Kānaka ‘Ōiwi and, by extension, our lāhui or nation as an exercise of ea or sovereignty to maximize equity within the settler system and to facilitate healing on our path toward liberation. Each section of my dissertation assists in ascertaining the extent to which we as ‘Ōiwi can exercise our determinations of truth to assist in healing and repairing our pilina or relationships while simultaneously asserting our right to political sovereignty as a subjugated people forced to live within the settler system. 

What are your immediate plans post-graduation?

I plan to return home to Hawaii to work for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). I am grateful for the opportunity to return to my one hānau or ancestral birthsands to support my lāhui or nation. 

How do you hope to make a difference in the legal field or in society through your career?

I believe that in following my path of kuleana, I innately am making a difference for my lāhui or nation as I can then offer my unique contribution in furtherance of our liberation. 

Message for your fellow Class of 2024: 

O ka pono ke hana ‘ia a iho mai na lani  

Blessings come to those who persist in doing good.

These interviews have been edited for length. Read the full interviews with Shania here and with Mele here.

AROUND THE COLLEGE

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Having the world’s best program in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy draws exceptional students from around the world. The deep, thoughtful and critical engagement of those students is reflected in the stories of Shania Kee and Mele Moniz. 

Their work as students, and the work of all of the students, faculty, alumni and supporters of IPLP, is a model for all of us of what a great academic program can be – one that connects theory and practice, one attentive to the past and the present, and one that provides superb learning, impactful policy and critical research.

Warmly,