Nazune Menka

Nazune Menka is an Assistant Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Northwest Center for Indigenous Law at Seattle University School of Law. Formerly the Executive Director of Berkeley Law’s Center for Indigenous Law & Justice, she has held roles including Supervising Attorney in the Environmental Law Clinic and Lecturer. Her work focuses on Indigenous self-determination, tribal sovereignty, and decolonization.

Education:

• J.D., University of Arizona, Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Certificate (2018)
• M.S., University of Arizona, Soil, Water, & Environmental Science (2013)
• B.A., North Carolina State University, Communications (2002)

Research Interests: Professor Menka’s scholarship addresses Indigenous legal frameworks, environmental justice, and constitutional law. She advocates for tribal sovereignty through legal reforms and coalition-building. Her environmental science background informs her work on toxicology and public health risks in tribal communities.

Professional Contributions: She serves as Board Treasurer for the California Indian Law Association, Water Protector Legal Collective, and SACNAS. Her advocacy spans policy work in Alaska and Hawaii legislatures, and internships at federal agencies like the EPA and CDC.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Northwest Center for Indigenous Law, advancing Native Nations’ legal capacity and decolonizing legal education. Founded UC Berkeley’s Decolonizing UC Berkeley course and collaborates on tribal cultural resource policy initiatives.