This Summer, James Mowdy (rising 3L) externed with the
Navajo Nation Washington Office. He worked with the legislative team conducting public policy research relating to land into trust, antiquities, economic issues, and tribal sovereignty. James received a scholarship to participate in the Native American Contractor Association’s Emerging Native Leader’s Summit 2017 cohort.

Ladd Gustafson (2L) and Solveig Parsons (3L) are working at SRPMIC Office of the General Counsel. They have written motions and researched a range of topics from leasing and jurisdiction to commercial enterprises and juvenile law. Ladd and Solveig have also shadowed attorneys at multiple ICWA hearings. They have had a great experience of working with amazing attorneys and gaining exposure to different areas of law.

The SRPMIC Office of General Counsel is filled with ILP alumni. The ASU ILP grads include Theresa Rosier (’98), Jennifer Giff (’95), Nicole King (’01), Marnie Hodahkwen (’02), Cheryl Scott (’05), and Mike Mainwald (’13).

This summer, Samantha Oswitch (rising 3L), is working as a Judicial Law Clerk for Gila River Indian Community Court. She has had new experiences this summer including observing a full jury trial. She works with the Court Solicitor as well as the Judges. On a daily basis, she help Judges with research, drafting memos, reading documents and providing feedback, and helping draft and edit orders. She has worked on both criminal and civil cases, and she has had the opportunity to see her research cited in Court orders.
Samantha has also had her first solo research assignment when the judge needed an answer before a hearing that was 2 hours later. She has loved her summer job and will be sad to leave.

This summer, Christina Andrews (rising 2L) was a recipient of the Native American Congressional Internship, under the bi-partisan Udall Foundation. She is grateful to have been placed with Congressman Raul Grijalva’s office. In her position, she is learning the Legislative Process by working on Bill H.R. 3166, The Native American Suicide Prevention Act 2017, which would require input by American Indian/Alaskan Native communities to the state receiving federal grants to develop and implement statewide suicide prevention strategies. This bill would open constructive dialogue between the state and tribes.

She is also working on a bill to make Consultation with tribes a law. Presently, Consultation at the federal level is not actually defined in statute. There has been an executive order since the Clinton Administration that requires each federal agency to have a tribal consultation policy and to “Consult” with Tribes. Those policies spell out the federal responsibilities, but not necessarily what a state would be required to do. It is worth noting that the executive order has yet to be reaffirmed by the current administration.