This past spring semester, 37 students and faculty from the University of Miami School of Law traveled to the Big Cypress Reservation for a community-based learning experience focused on Indigenous rights, legal sovereignty, and cultural preservation.
Representing the International Human Rights Law course, the Human Rights Clinic, and the Indigenous Law Student Association, the group visited the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Led by Professors and Caroline Bettinger-López, the visit allowed students to learn from Seminole community members and connect principles of international human rights law with the lived experiences, governance, and legal realities of a sovereign tribal nation.
“Indigenous rights is a key area of concern in international human rights law,” said Ezer. “We were honored to be invited to visit with the Seminole Tribe and have the opportunity to connect with a local Indigenous community and learn firsthand about the human rights issues they are facing. We were also lucky to be joined by our amazing alumna, Caroline LaPorte, who is now a tribal judge, and to benefit from her insights and reflections.”
Experiencing Seminole Culture and Sovereignty
Throughout the day, the cohort was guided by Seminole Tribal member Duelle Gore, founder and director of ResFamous Movement, Inc., alongside LaPorte. LaPorte, a Human Rights Clinic alumna, serves as an associate judge with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and as an associate judge for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Appellate Division. She is also director of Safe Women Strong Nations at the Indian Law Resource Center.
The visit focused heavily on the rights to culture and language, examining community-led efforts to preserve and revive Indigenous traditions. Prior to the trip, students engaged in rigorous academic preparation, studying international instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ADRIP), alongside legal texts and articles addressing language loss and cultural identity.
The itinerary brought these theoretical texts to life through a rich, full-day experience across the reservation. Students began the morning with a guided tour of the Ahfachkee School, meeting with tribal elders to discuss how the Seminole language, traditions, and knowledge are passed down to younger generations and integrated with contemporary subjects. The group then gathered for lunch at the Big Cypress Indigenous Arts & Music Festival, where they met with Seminole leaders and enjoyed traditional frybread and dance. The trip concluded at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, where Seminole historians shared the lived experiences, cultural richness. and enduring sovereignty and resilience of the tribe.
A Lasting Impact on Future Advocates
For the law students, moving from classroom discussions to community-based engagement was transformative, reinforcing the real-world impact of the law.
"I never expected that the law school curriculum would include field trips,” said law student Adnan Zulic, a rising 2L. “I walked away from this experience with a deep appreciation for Seminole life, culture, and history, and a reminder that the law affects real people and communities. Bringing that human understanding into our class discussions has made me appreciate what we learn even more, and I'm grateful for this kind of hands-on learning. It's something no textbook could replicate."
Reflecting on what community leaders shared about traditional social structures, fellow student Rachel Long, a rising 2L, echoed the sentiment, noting the value of learning directly from community leaders about traditional social structures.
“The trip to the Seminole Reservation was such a fantastic experience,” she said. “I enjoyed learning more about Seminole history and getting to immerse ourselves in Seminole culture. My favorite part of the trip was learning about their matriarchal culture and seeing those cultural practices at play.”
For students in the International Human Rights Law course, Human Rights Clinic, and Indigenous Law Student Association, the visit offered an opportunity to engage directly with a sovereign tribal nation and witness how issues of culture, language, and self-determination shape legal advocacy. The experience reinforced the value of experiential learning in preparing future attorneys to approach their work with greater context, understanding, and respect for the communities they serve.
Read more about the School of Law’s human rights law area of study.
