SUMMIT FOR NORTHWEST AMERICAN INDIAN LAW (SNAIL)
Oregon Law's Native American Law Students Association (NALSA)—in partnership with the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP—has announced the inaugural Summit for Northwest American Indian Law (SNAIL), a new public conference focused on legal issues facing Indian Country.
The first ever SNAIL will take place at the William W. Knight Law Center from 1:00 to 7:30 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Selected by the students of NALSA, the theme for this year's conference is Moving Beyond Acknowledgment.
Complete your free registration to attend SNAIL.
Questions? Contact NALSA at uonalsa@uoregon.edu.
Agenda
Saturday, February 7, 2026
William W. Knight Law Center | Many Nations Longhouse
- 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. | Opening Remarks (Room 110)
- 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception (Wayne Morse Commons)
- 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Panel #1: Perspectives from the Private Practice (Room 110)
- 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. | BREAK
- 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. | Panel #2: Representing Tribal People(s) and Interests (Room 110)
- 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. | Keynote Address: Moving Beyond Acknowledgment (Room 110)
- 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Community Dinner & Closing Reception (Many Nations Longhouse)
Speakers & Panelists
Chuck Sams
Senior Fellow, Native Environmental Sovereignty Project, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center
Oregon Tribes Scholar-in-Residence, University of Oregon School of Law
Jason Younker
Chief, Coquille Indian Nation
Assistant Vice President & Advisor to the President on Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations, University of Oregon
Direlle Calica
Director, Institute for Tribal Government, Portland State University
Vanessa Jackson
General Counsel, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Tim Simmons
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon
Pro Tem Instructor, University of Oregon
