The UCLA School of Law will receive today the largest donation
ever given by an American Indian tribe to an academic institution
““ to the tune of $4 million.
The donation by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will
create a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties.
The funds have been gathered by the San Manuel Band of Mission
Indians from gaming revenue and will go toward creating a tribal
learning and educational exchange center, said Deron Marquez,
chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
The law school and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians have
agreed to a number of basic guidelines, but the law school will for
the most part decide exactly how the donation will be used.
The money will mainly go toward designing a curriculum for UCLA
students, both undergraduate and graduate, as well as courses for
UCLA Extension, said law Professor Carole Goldberg.
While still tentative, courses such as “Community and
Nation Building,” “Tribal Law” and
“Economic Development in Indian Country” will be among
those offered as a part of the new American Indian curriculum.
The new courses are designed to educate UCLA students about
issues facing American Indians. Tribal members will also have the
opportunity to learn about the issues that face them through UCLA
extension.
“We want to use the courses to draw together knowledge
from the university and the knowledge base of the tribal community,
… educating people about the issues confronting tribal members in
the 21st century and beyond,” she said.
Along with new curriculum, UCLA hopes to provide tools for both
UCLA students and tribal members.
Benefits garnered by the law school as a result of the endowment
will include internships with tribal communities and support for
the Law School Clinical Program, Goldberg said.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians sees this gift as another
means of perpetuating their objectives: increasing awareness of
American Indian culture, inspiring the youth to seek out higher
education, and fostering American Indian culture in their own
community.
The donation will hopefully provide a sense of belonging for
tribal youths with many obstacles, Marquez said.
“Unfortunately, in this climate tribes have somehow made
their way into a group known as “˜special
interests,'” Marquez added.
For the tribe, this new relationship will open doors for their
youth, who will have the opportunity to connect directly with
students, faculty and staff.
It is hoped that the knowledge traded between the law school and
the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will educate both parties
about pressing issues facing American Indian nations across the
country.
At a conference to take place this morning, the San Manuel Band
of Mission Indians and the law school will outline how the $4
million will be used and how both parties can take advantage of
this new relationship, said Pricilla Simo, a spokeswoman for the
tribe.