The UCLA School of Law has announced a $15 million gift from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in support of the study and practice of Native American law.
The largest ever gift from a Native American tribe to a law school will create the Graton Scholars program in the university’s Native Nations Law and Policy Center. Each year through the program, a new cohort of Native students and others interested in pursuing careers as tribal advocates will receive a full-tuition scholarship covering all three years of law school.
“Tribal law is a cornerstone of Native Americans’ quest for equality and inclusion within the U.S. justice system,” said Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria tribal chair Greg Sarris, who received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and returned to the university to teach English for more than a decade. “UCLA’s commitment to educating and preparing the next generation of tribal legal advocates is personally known to me, as an alumnus and former UCLA professor. We hope this gift will begin the drive for equity for our people in our native land.”
“This is one of the largest gifts to support scholarships in UCLA history, and we are incredibly grateful to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for this visionary investment, which bolsters our university’s longtime commitment to service in Indian country and the success of Native people everywhere,” said UCLA chancellor Gene Block. “This gift allows us to recruit the very best candidates to pursue their legal education at UCLA and prepare for careers as impactful advocates for Native Nations.”
