MEET VINCENT

My name is Vincent Motanic Sheoships, and I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Northeastern Oregon. I am also a descendant of the White Mountain Apache, Nez Perce, Sac and Fox Nations. I am a 2L attending Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, and have proudly served as Co-President of the Lewis & Clark Law School NALSA Chapter.

Prior to attending Law School, I attended the Pre-Summer Law School Institute (PLSI) to prepare myself for academic success, but also to enforce my dedication to practice Federal Indian law. My summer spent in Albuquerque reinforced my passion for law and to give back to my Tribal community and Indian Country in general. This past summer, I was honored to serve as a Udall Congressional Intern for Senator Merkley of Oregon, and worked on a wide variety of issues, from the environment, international politics, and tribal relationships. My experience in D.C. has also informed my pathway in representing Tribal Nations collectively whilst also understanding the uniqueness of each Tribes values and perspectives.

My guiding light throughout my life is Tamánwit. Tamánwit is the unwritten laws that describe the relationships between the Nati’tayt (people), Tiicham (Land/Earth), and Neet (Community). Tamánwit is an ideology that governs my people and my approach to the relationships between myself, the community, and the environment. Tamánwit never places importance on any of the three but emphasizes balance and the need to always give back to your community in a bigger and better way. It is my hope that my words are more than manifestations, but will be direct results that enable Area 7 to be more vocal and represented in the national framework of NALSA.