Alumni Award Recipients

John Echohawk
James F. Zimmerman Award, 2010

The Pawnees gave John Echohawk's great-grandfather his name. Hawk because he was brave. Echo because stories of his actions and deeds echoed through the tribe.

They couldn't have been more prescient about their great-grandchild.

John Echohawk is brave.

He graduated from UNM in 1967, then became the first American Indian student to enter UNM Law School. While in law school, he co-founded the American Indian Law Students Association, beginning his career of addressing the rights of American Indians. He completed his JD in 1970.

From the first days of his career, John stood up to injustice and fought for the rights of Indian people. He joined the Native American Rights Fund early on, becoming its executive director in 1977. NARF's organizational mission and John's personal mission are synonymous:

• To protect the natural resources of tribes.
• To secure basic human rights for Native Americans.
• To make sure the federal and state laws governing the lives of Native Americans are enforced.
• To develop Indian law and educate the public about Indian rights and issues.

John has been called the Thurgood Marshall of Indian law, for his determined and effective pursuit of civil rights.

John Echohawk's work resonates today.

A friend, Vincent Knight, cites John's legacy of mentoring and encouraging Indian attorneys and law clerks who have moved on and had successful careers. "Most of us Indian attorneys know or have met John," Vincent says.

John's way is the way of nature. He once wrote: "Human beings are a part of the earth and have no special rights over any other living or non-living creature. This is something I learned as part of my upbringing."

Perhaps it was this understanding that gave him the inner strength and steadfastness that his classmates, colleagues and friends have admired since he was a boy in Farmington.

Judge Harris Hartz and John grew up together. Harris says John was the person you competed with for the best grade. He was a good athlete and president of the student body his senior year in high school. "Everyone respected and liked him, " Harris says. "They wanted him to succeed."

Harris says that while John cares a lot and becomes upset at injustice, Harris has never seen him lose his temper. His way is quiet, undemonstrative, still. (So still that his self-winding watch stopped moving while he was watching a high school basketball game!)

"John wouldn't stand up and take over a meeting," Vincent says. "He listens quietly. He analyzes. Then he comes out with something relevant and pertinent. People know he's in the room and look to him for leadership."

So did President Clinton when he appointed John to the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission. And so did both the Clinton-Gore and the Obama-Biden administrations when they asked him to join their transition team.

At one point, John withdrew his name from the pool of candidates to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "I already have a good job," he said.

Not only do you have a good job, John, you carry it out superbly. Your work has changed the lives of countless Native Americans and inspired us all. We extend to you our gratitude, and are honored to give you our James F. Zimmerman Award.