November 1st marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native American and Indigenous communities. The NYU community has many incredible Native American and Indigenous members, and in this episode, we highlight one of those members – Justice Shawn Baker. In this episode, producer Ahmed Ashour speaks with Justice Baker about her journey finding the law through trial and error, her time on the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, and her advice for current and prospective members of the NYU community, especially those of Native American and Indigenous descent.

Justice Shawna Baker is a former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice recognized internationally for her empowering representation of women and minorities. She is the first 2SLGBTQ+ person and only the third woman ever confirmed to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court. Justice Baker’s first written opinion was In re: Nash - a groundbreaking decision that granted full rights of citizenship to Cherokee Freedman descendants. In addition to her service on the Supreme Court, Justice Baker serves on Chief Hoskin’s Domestic Violence Task Force and Cherokee Nation Health Services’ Ending the HIV Epidemic Committee. Other roles include being a distinguished alumna in residence at the University of Tulsa College of Law, managing attorney of Family Legacy and Wealth Counsel, and a trustee of Oklahomans for Equality in Tulsa. She is an alum of NYU Law School, having earned her L.L.M in Taxation in 2015.  In addition to being Cherokee Nation citizen, Shawna is also of Muscogee Creek descent and resides on the Creek Reservation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

For a full transcript of this episode, please email [email protected].