Native American Heritage Month at ASU Law

To kick off Native American Heritage month, the ILP invited all of ASU Law to a movie screening of Killers of the Flower Moon on Nov. 3.

Professor Robert Miller and panelists appeared on The Scholars’ Circle podcast segment “Osage Nation (tribe): history, oil, murders and gender dynamics.” In the panel, Miller discussed the legal situation and exploitation of Native Peoples in Oklahoma.

The ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) visited the Honorable Diane Humetewa (’93), a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse.

On Nov. 8, NALSA and the American Constitution Society co-hosted a lunch lecture featuring Professor Robert Miller and discussed Native American influence on the U.S. Constitution. 

On Nov. 15, NALSA hosted a brown bag luncheon with April Olson (’06), partner at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and Kiyoko Patterson (’03), Assistant U.S. Attorney. We appreciate Rothstein Donatelli LLP for sponsoring this event.

On Nov. 18, students gathered for a “NALSA Friendsgiving” to strengthen community and enjoy a good meal.

NALSA students held a food drive and delivered donations to the Phoenix Indian Center.

In late October, ASU NALSA spent an afternoon with Ron Rosier (’95), of counsel at Lewis Roca and Steven Heeley, of counsel at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and learned about career opportunities for Indian law attorneys.

Job opportunity: State Policy Advocates

Protect Democracy is hiring State Policy Advocates in Arizona and Nevada. You can find that job posting here; Full listing of jobs is here.

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to preventing American democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. Our diverse, cross-ideological team defends elections, the rule of law, and fact-based political debate against authoritarian threats, and works to shape a better democracy for future generations. 

The State Policy Advocate will be Protect Democracy’s advocacy lead in Arizona or Nevada, working with our full team to design, execute, and contribute to a variety of initiatives that achieve impact and advance Protect Democracy’s mission. The ideal candidates bring a strategic approach and superb communication skills; a flexible, growth-oriented mindset and collaborative approach; a commitment to excellence; and enthusiasm for our mission. 

We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and with policy views across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. Finally, we do not expect any candidate to have 100% of the qualifications listed. 

Job opportunity: Attorney-Advisor

Office of the Solicitor
U.S. Department of the Interior, Division of Water Resources  

Attorney-Advisor. Phoenix, Arizona (Telework eligible). The Solicitor’s Office performs a wide variety of the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior. The selected Attorney-Advisor will report to the Division of Water Resources, Branch of Water and Power and provide legal advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to various federal agencies but primarily to the Bureau of Reclamation, including guidance related to federal water-related contracts with Reclamation water users in the western states, including municipalities, water and irrigation districts, and Native American tribes, and interpretation of western water law, laws and regulations of general applicability to Federal agencies, such as the Federal Land Management and Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and other relevant federal laws. Applicants should have the ability to interact and negotiate with Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters.

In addition, SOL attorneys perform the legal work of the Interior and represent the Interior in administrative hearings. SOL works in conjunction with the Department of Justice in representing the Interior in judicial proceedings throughout the United States.  SOL also provides legal assistance in drafting and reviewing proposed legislation, regulations, contracts, title documents, and other legal instruments. Closing date: Friday, October 27, 2023.

More information
Position Title:  Attorney-Advisor
Series/Grade:  GS-0905-12/13/14 (FPL 14)
Duty Station:  Phoenix, AZ
Open Period:  10/13/2023 to 10/27/2023 

Announcement #:  SOL-DWR-24-VN-003 (EXC)

USAJOBS Posting: USAJOBS – Job Announcement

Celebrating excellence, one award at a time

The Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) held its 2023 Annual Seven Generations Awards Dinner and Silent Auction and honored several of our ILP family. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients! ILP advisory council member Judith Dworkin received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Angela Willeford-Salazar (MLS ’23) with the Office of Congressional & Legislative Affairs’ Get Out the Vote Committee received the Community Leadership Award and Kiyoko Patterson (’03) received the Member of the Year Award.

Eleven ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) students received the NABA-AZ Scholarship for their academic achievement. Congratulations to ILP students: Rachel Carroll (3L), Keely Driscoll (2L), Shandiin Herrera (2L), Clayton Kinsey (3L), Kaleb Lester (2L), Sadie Red Eagle (2L), Maryam Salazar (3L), Natalia Sells (3L), Ronnie Strode III (1L), Alexandra Trousdale (3L) and Makai Zuniga (2L).

The NABA-AZ are integral to student success and we appreciate their commitment to ILP students.

Tribal exhibit features Professor Robert Miller

Professor Robert Miller’s tribe is currently hosting an exhibit in his honor, showcasing his accomplishments at the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Library.

Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs hosts conference at ASU California Center

On Oct. 4, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Event Center at ASU California Center hosted the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs to learn more about Trends in Indian Gaming. Participants were warmly welcomed by Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Steve Bodmer (’06), from the Pechanga Band of Indians led the event discussing “Current Trends in Indian Gaming – A West Coast Perspective.” Third-year law students Maryam Salazar and Clayton Kinsey facilitated the next panel on the “West Flagler Litigation,” and they were joined by ASU Law’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Director Derrick Beetso (’10), Steve Hart from Lewis Roca and Timothy Evans from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Christy Hubbard from Lewis Roca engaged the audience at lunch with “20 Pairs of Gladiators’ and JB Smoove Walk into a Bar in Pompeii . . . Sports, Gambling, & Advertising Law for Every Age (You’ve Come a Long Way Baby).” Salazar and Kinsey also facilitated the final panel, “Lessons from Lac du Flambeau,” and were joined by Ron Rosier (’95) from Lewis Roca and ASU Law Professor Laura Coordes.

Thank you to our speakers and host for a successful event. We appreciate the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ support of legal education for American Indians and Lewis Roca for sponsoring coffee.

For anyone who could not attend, a recording will be available on the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs website:
law.asu.edu/igg

Consulting with ILP students

In August, ILP students Keely Driscoll (2L), Shandiin Herrera (2L), Morgan Oakes (2L), Sophie Staires (3L) and Natalia Sells (3L) traveled to O’ahu to assist Professor Derrick Beetso (’10) with a consultation project involving Native Hawaiians and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). 

“It was great learning how different communities can participate in the rulemaking process,” said Oakes. “There is nothing that can replicate listening to community members discussing their past experience and concerns with proposed regulations.”

“I really appreciated the opportunity to attend the Honolulu session and learn more about Hawaiian governmental structures and histories that guide the consultation process and responses there,” said Driscoll. “I learned just how distinct the conversations taking place in Hawaii are from those taking place in the states.”

Also pictured: Colin Kippen, interim CEO, OHA.

Job opportunity: Attorney-Adviser

Department of the Interior
Office of the Solicitor
Phoenix, AZ

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.
Merit promotion procedures do not apply.
This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

As an Attorney-Adviser with the Department of the Interior, Office of the SolicitorIntermountain region, Phoenix Field Office, located in Phoenix, AZyour specific duties will include:

  • Providing advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to the various agencies within the Department of the Interior, primarily for, but not limited to, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.
  • Providing advice and legal services on the topics of public lands management and western water law relating to laws and regulations of general applicability to Federal agencies, such as the Federal Land Management and Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, National Reclamation Act, and other relevant federal laws.
  • Providing litigation support on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior and various Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, to the Department of Justice and practicing before the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
  • Involves knowledge of water law; public lands law; federal and state litigation procedure; the federal Indian trust responsibility and statutes relating to interactions between the federal government and Tribes; federal environmental laws; real property laws; contracts, financial assistance, and cooperative agreements.
  • Requires the ability to analyze legal requirements and succinctly provide advice and counsel to technical/non-legal professionals; and the ability to interact and negotiate with outside entities, including Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters.

For full job description and to apply, go to Job Posting.