Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1535304
SPRING / SUMMER 2025 27 Law of identity Derek Red Arrow puts himself into his work in Native Law When Derek Red Arrow received a six-figure scholarship to study Indian Law at Seattle University, his first thought was amazement, followed quickly by wondering: "Who am I to show promise to Indian country?" Derek recalls asking himself. "I needed to learn before I started school." Derek, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce, called various tribes to help him map a route from Seattle to the Oglala Sioux reserve in South Dakota. He bought a camp- ing hammock, fueled up his Yamaha R1, and set off on his journey. He stayed with six tribes and learned what their communities needed most from a lawyer. Aer earning his law degree, Derek accepted a federal clerkship for the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, which has jurisdiction over five Indian res- ervations. "at was one of the best experiences of my career," he says. "I was able to see how federal courts digest aspects of federal Indian law. It helped inform my role as an advocate." Derek then worked with Yakama Nation on federal cases dealing with treaty rights for two years before tran- sitioning to private practice. He now works at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton's Seattle office, where he's part of the firm's nationally ranked Indian law practice. "I give something of myself into every single case," Derek says. "ere's a certain reverence required for my work, but I love what I do." His work ranges from protecting treaty rights to assisting tribal economic development across the country. Derek, a swimmer, joined the WAC last year. He lives in Yakima and oen visits the Club when he's in town. "It's my home outside of home," he says. Modern music John Holloway sings praises for the joy of chamber music "You love chamber music," John Holloway says. "You just don't know it yet." If anyone can convince you that's true, it's John. He lights up when asked to describe chamber music. "It's luxurious," he says. "We can go really fast, and we're highly mobile, making it easy to bring music to the community." John serves as executive director of the Seattle Cham- ber Music Society, located across the street from the WAC. He takes nearly every lunch meeting in Hagerty's and enjoys the Spa at the WAC. John and his wife also bring their baby daughter to Saturday swim lessons. John's obvious passion for chamber music and community outreach landed him the executive director role in 2021, the same year he joined the WAC. Since then, he's been working to surround Seattle with live compilations from the world's best musicians. "It's a very accessible art form, but people might not seek it out on their own," he says. e Concert Truck, a traveling music venue that transforms parks into free concert halls, is one of the exciting partnerships John has helped bring to life. His team also started Tasting Notes, an evening of food and music featuring chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt and violinist James Ehnes. ese events are all part of John's goal to modernize people's conception of chamber music. ink of it as small ensemble music performed in intimate set- tings, oen with some combination of strings and piano with the occasional woodwinds and brass. "You'll start to understand the complexities the more you listen," says John, himself a pianist. "You'll enjoy it as it comes into focus." —Learn about Seattle Chamber Music Society's Summer Festival at seattlechambermusic.org.