John Echohawk (Pawnee), Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund. He was the first graduate of the University of New Mexico’s special program to train Indian Lawyers, and was a founding member of the American Indian Law Students Association while in Law School. John has been with NARF since its inception in 1970, having served continuously as Executive Director since 1977.He has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by National Law Journal and has received numerous service awards and otherrecognition for his leadership in the field of Indian Law. He serves on the Boards of the American Indian Resources Institute, The Association on American Indian Affairs, the Indigenous Language Institute,Natural Resources Defense Council, and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. B.A., University of New Mexico (1967); J.D., University of New Mexico (1970).