On October 16, 2024, the School of Law and the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program hosted the Gathering of Communities and Nations Convocation. The event featured Distinguished Alumnus John Echohawk of the Pawnee Nation.

The UNM School of Law was established in 1947, initially enrolling 53 students, including 51 World War II veterans. In 1967, John Echohawk became its first Native American law student. By 1970, he graduated as the school’s first Native American alumnus.

Echohawk's academic journey started with the Special Scholarship Program for American Indians, which later became the Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PLSI). As a member of PLSI's inaugural class, he studied Federal Indian Law, which fueled his advocacy interest.

After graduating, Echohawk co-founded the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in 1970 to serve impoverished Native Americans' legal needs and advocate for their rights. NARF has become a prominent entity in Native American legal advocacy, handling landmark cases like United States v. State of Washington, Keystone XL Pipeline, Cobell v. Salazar, and Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe. Echohawk’s contributions have inspired many Native American attorneys and highlighted Indian law's significance within the legal community.

Currently recognized for its extensive Indian law program, the School of Law was named the top law school for Native American law students by preLaw Magazine in 2022. The Law and Indigenous Peoples Program is designed to prepare students for careers in Indian law through opportunities such as obtaining an Indian Law Certificate.

The convocation celebrated Echohawk’s legacy and UNM's commitment to supporting Native American legal education. Faculty at the School of Law includes Professor Aliza Organick (Navajo Nation), Associate Professor Samuel Winder (Southern Ute Indian Tribe), Assistant Professor Nadine Padilla (Navajo Nation and Isleta and Laguna Pueblos), and Professor Sherri Thomas (Taos Pueblo).