. . . If we are peaceful, if we are happy,
we can smile and blossom like a flower,
and everyone in our family,
our entire society,
will benefit from our peace.
     —Thich Nhat Hanh 

Reina Milligan, California Indian Legal Services staff attorney, died April 10, 2001, in a tragic auto accident in Northern California. Reina, age 34, who at the time of her untimely passing was enjoying a maternity leave, had worked in our Eureka office since April 1997. Reina's time with CILS was too short but both distinguished and remarkably productive. With a quick and able

mind, Reina provided superior representation in a variety of substantive areas ranging from laws impacting people at the most personal levels, such as adoption, probates, and landlord-tenant issues, to areas involving highly complex jurisdictional, commercial, and other Indian law issues. 

In the Indian law arena, a recent accomplishment of particular note was Reina's instrumental work in securing the passage of State Senate Bill 1231, granting a tax exemption to Tribally owned low-income housing located on off-reservation fee land. This effort removed a major impediment to the ability of Indian Tribes in California to provide housing assistance to their neediest members.

While adept in many areas of the law, Reina's true passion was protecting the earth and all of its creatures. Accordingly, her entire legal career reflects an unwavering commitment to environmental issues. Reina received both her B.A. in Anthropology and J.D., with Environmental Law Certificate, from the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with honors. She began her environmental work with a variety of well known resource agencies. Reina played a central role in creating the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) environmental justice program and authored a critically acclaimed report on environmental equity issues. She received the Gold Medal, the EPA's highest award.

While at CILS, Reina authored a Tribal Environmental Protection Plan which was later adopted by the EPA to serve as a model for other Tribes. She assisted Tribes in developing environmental ordinances and Tribal environmental regulatory systems. She also represented Tribes in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, assisted in developing Clean Water Act and Historic Preservation Act protocols between Tribes and federal agencies, and provided Congressional comments regarding Core Water Quality Standards for all Indian Country Waters. Authentic in her beliefs and actions, she incorporated her principles into all aspects of her work, including instituting and administering conservation and recycling programs at CILS.

While her professional accomplishments were notable, the outpouring of shock and the sense of loss expressed by so many at her passing, highlight what is perhaps her truest legacy. She worked as she lived, with grace and ease. Always positive and unconditional, she added value to every life she touched. Her light, free flowing spirit and hearty open laughter put both strangers and friends at ease and her compassion served to bring parties together on, often difficult, technical and emotional issues. We are better for having known her.

Reina is also survived by her parents, three brothers, a niece and numerous friends and colleagues, all of whom will miss her greatly. Private funeral arrangements are being completed by the family. When Mari is sufficiently recovered to join in the memorial celebration, a ceremony to honor Reina's life will occur in Arcata, California, on a date to be announced.