Author Archives: dwilliams

Deadline Extended – Call for articles: Special Indian Law Edition of the Arizona Attorney 2022

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Deadline for 1-2 Paragraph Article Proposals: February 7, 2022

Deadline for Article Drafts: March 18, 2022

The Indian Law Section has extended the deadline for article proposals to be included in the 2022 special Indian Law edition of the Arizona Attorney magazine. Proposals should focus on an issue of interest to those who practice Indian Law. Publication in the Indian Law Edition of the Arizona Attorney magazine is a wonderful opportunity for Indian legal practitioners to showcase their expertise in the field of Indian law.  The Indian Law Section relies on you to contribute articles in order to preserve this outstanding tradition.

Past articles from the 2021 Indian Law edition were:
A View from Tribal Court: Tips for Best Practices
By M. June Harris

Thawing the Freeze: COVID-19’s Effect on the Former Bennett Freeze Area of the Navajo Nation
By Susan I. Eastman

The Words of the Talking God: Sustaining Native Nations Through the Common Law
By Joseph Austin

An Opportunity Arises: Prop. 207 and Arizona Tribes’ New Beginnings for Marijuana Legislation
By Judith Dworkin, Joe Keene, and Candace French

Epidemic Hiding in Plain Sight
By Susan Filan

Spectrum Sovereignty: The U.S. Must Recognize Indigenous Rights to Spectrum
By Darrah Blackwater

Arizona–Tribal 2021 Gaming Compact Amendments: What You Need to Know
By Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier and Ed Hermes

Bent But Not Broken – ICWA Stands: A Summary of “Brackeen v. Haaland”
By Glennas’ba Augborne Arents and April E. Olson

Either a short or a long article may be proposed. Generally, a long article will be between 2,000 and 2,500 words (in a Microsoft Word document, about 9 to 12 pages including endnotes) and will be about 3 to 4 pages in the magazine. A short article will be approximately 1,500 words and typically will be 2 pages in the magazine.

The proposal should provide the following information: author’s name and contact information (e-mail address, phone number, and name of employer/firm); the subject matter of the article (e.g., ICWA, NAGPRA, Water Rights, Land Use, Tribal Sovereignty, etc.); the anticipated title; and a concise summary of the thesis of the article. 

Proposal authors will be notified on whether their proposed article has been accepted by February 11, 2022.  The draft of the article for a selected proposal will be due on March 18, 2022.  Final drafts of selected articles are due by April 25, 2022.

If you would like to submit a proposal or if you have questions, please contact:

Glennas’ba Augborne Arents, Secretary, Indian Law Section
gaugborne@rothsteinlaw.com

Or

Hon. M. June Harris, Member-at-Large, Indian Law Section
JHarris@sc.pima.gov

Inclusion on the bench

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Representation in Arizona

Of the 26 elected justices of the peace in Maricopa County, Judge Deborah Ann Begay (’10) is representing Indian Country in a big way! In January 2021, Begay made history by becoming the first Native American justice of the peace in Maricopa County and whose swearing in was administered by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. After a full year sitting on the bench, she understands the need to serve and empower underrepresented communities. 

“Because the judicial system has historically been ruled by cisgender white men, people may have biases against judges who do not look like they expect them to,” said Begay in an Arizona Republic article “Maricopa County Justice Courts lead way on representation.” 

Your impactful service is so inspiring and we are proud of you, Judge Begay!

See more of Begay’s personal swearing-in ceremony in ILP blogpost Alumni: Taking the Oath in a Pandemic. 

(Photo courtesy The Arizona Republic)

Native Vote

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Mapping the next election

Redistricting

The State is wrapping up its redistricting efforts, and the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will finalize the legislative and congressional maps early next week. Native Vote Fellow Blair Tarman-Toner (’21) tracked the Commission’s deliberations over the course of its 14 decision-making meetings, as well as tracked  the public comments made at 32 public hearings. Tarman-Toner also regularly presented to tribes on the redistricting process, assisted tribes in drafting public comments, and submitted oral and written comment regarding the importance of complying with the Voting Rights Act and maintaining a strong Native American majority-minority district.  

2022 Legislative Session

The Indian Legal Clinic has kicked off its Native Vote policy project with the start of the legislative session this week. The project will focus on tracking bills that impact voting and keeping tribes informed and involved regarding how those bills will impact their tribal members. The clinic will also work with other voting rights organizations through the Arizona Voting Rights Defense Coalition. Native Vote Fellow Torey Dolan (’19) serves on the Coalition’s Coordinating Committee that manages the broader Coalition. 

____

Blair Tarman-Toner (’21)
Native Vote Fellow, Indian Legal Program, ASU Law

Job opportunity: Attorney

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Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C
Seattle, Washington, and Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C, with offices in Seattle, Washington, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, seeks an attorney for either office or to work remotely. Kanji & Katzen’s nationwide legal practice focuses on the representation of tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal members. The firm assists tribes in protecting their sovereignty, their natural and cultural resources, and their lands, and in pursuing economic development projects. The firm expects its attorneys to devote their careers to advocacy on behalf of tribes. Given the composition of the firm’s caseload, a keen interest in and knowledge of environmental and natural resources law, in addition to federal Indian law, would be helpful. However, prior experience in the fields of Indian and/or environmental law are not pre-requisites to employment.

Applicants should possess a stellar academic and professional record, as well as a willingness to work enthusiastically and creatively on behalf of tribes. Applicants should have at least 2 years of litigation experience after a judicial clerkship or law school.

The firm offers competitive salaries and an opportunity to hone advocacy skills in a wide variety of interesting settings.

To apply, please send by email a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, a writing sample, and references, to employment@kanjikatzen.com. We prefer to receive the application documents combined into a single pdf file.

Brilliant Success

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Gathering of Indigenous Legal Scholars

On Dec. 8-9, the ILP and the Native Nations Law and Policy Center at UCLA School of Law teamed up and welcomed current and future Indigenous law faculty from across the country to participate in the “Gathering of Indigenous Legal Scholars” at ASU Law. The purpose of this gathering was to cultivate a community of support for current and future legal scholars across the fields of federal Indian law and tribal law.
On the first day, four emerging Indigenous scholars presented their research to the 25 Indigenous law professors in attendance. The faculty then presented a hybrid-format webinar, “Launching Your Academic Career,” to share knowledge, tips and advice for entering the academic job market. On day two, junior and senior faculty in the field shared their current research with one another. 

The overall event highlighted just how robust scholarship in the field of Indigenous law has become, and how important rigorous legal research is to Indigenous peoples and the development of law and legal systems intended to meet their needs. The event built on previous gatherings for emerging Indigenous faculty organized by senior Indigenous scholars, including Professor Robert J. Miller. 

We are delighted that five ILP affiliates participated: Native Vote Fellow Torey Dolan (’19) presented “Reviving the Promises of the Indian Citizenship Act: Congress’ Trust Obligations to Protect the Native Vote,” Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee presented “Self-Determination in a Sinking Basin,” Professor Stacy Leeds presented “Essentials of Going on the Legal-Academic Job Market”, Professor Miller served on the roundtable “Developing Your Research Agenda” and Professor Trevor Reed presented “Restorative Licensing.”

We appreciate our co-host the Native Nations Law and Policy Center at UCLA School of Law and all participants for making this a successful event.

Celebrating Tribal Investments

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San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Last month, the Indian Legal Program celebrated the generosity of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians at the ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles, located at the historic Herald Examiner building, for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and the naming of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Event Center within the building. The naming of the space recognizes San Manuel’s $5 million gift for the recent renovation of the ASU California Center, and the tribe’s support for ASU Law’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs. 

San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez said it best: “Investing in education that underscores Native American law and tribal sovereignty is among the core values of the tribe.”

“Participating in the unveiling was an honor,” said Derrick Beetso (’10), director of ASU Law’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs. “The history of the Herald Examiner building, as described by Chairman Ramirez, indicates how special this event was for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and it was a pleasure to share in this experience. The Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs look forward to exploring new opportunities for innovative uses for the space, including practical learning experiences for our students.”

Read more in the ASU News article and review ASU Law’s video recap.

We are very happy some of our ILP students joined Professor Beetso, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Executive Director Kate Rosier and Professor Trevor Reed in this celebration, including: Ashleigh Fixico (2L), Noah Goldenberg (2L), Clayton Kinsey (1L), Francisco Olea (LLM), Sophie Staires (1L) and David Streamer (3L). During the trip, students documented and shared the experience on our Instagram for Student Takeover. 

Thank you, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, for your continued support!

Job Opportunity: Staff Attorney

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The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney in the Racial Justice Program of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Remote.

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, and works on a broad range of racial justice issues.

See full job posting.

We Conquered

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On Oct. 11, we held a free one-hour webinar “Conquering Columbus: Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.”

We appreciate our panel experts—Native Vote Fellow Torey Dolan (’19), Sarah Augustine, Douglas Lind and Professor Robert J. Miller—for leading this rising awareness discussion and helping ensure the academic landscape represents Indian Country’s full diversity and history at a national scale.

If you missed the webinar, you may watch the recording.

ILP Family legacy

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Native American Heritage Month

ASU's Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) president and 2L Ashleigh Fixico (Muscogee Creek Nation) rocking her mocs

As a team representing 10 tribes at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, the Indian Legal Program aims to educate and celebrate on the ancestral lands of the Akimel O’odham. The program was established 33 years ago by the efforts of two ASU Law students – Gloria Kindig (’89) and LynDee Wells (’89). Over the years, we have excelled and built on that vision and created the Indian Legal Clinic, the Arizona Native Vote Election Protection Project, the Indian Wills Clinic, the Pathway to Law Initiative, the Rosette LLP American Indian Economic Development Program, and the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance programs.

  • Kate Rosier (Comanche), ILP Executive Director and Assistant Dean of Institutional Progress
  • Patty Ferguson-Bohnee (Pointe-au-Chien), ILP Faculty Director and Indian Legal Clinic Director
  • Professor Robert Miller (Eastern Shawnee), Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar and Director of the Rosette LLP American Indian Economic Development Program
  • Professor Stacy Leeds (Cherokee), Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership
  • Professor Trevor Reed (Hopi), Associate Professor of Law
  • Professor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes (’94) (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska), Professor of Practice and Director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs
  • Professor Derrick Beetso (’10) (Navajo), Director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs
  • Professor Helen Burtis (’07), Faculty Associate
  • Professor Lance Morgan (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska), Faculty Associate
  • Professor Pilar Thomas (Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona), Faculty Associate
  • Danielle Williams (Navajo), Program Coordinator Sr
  • Theresa Beaulieu (Stockbridge-Munsee), Program Coordinator
  • Honore Callingham (’18), Senior Specialist, Indian Legal Clinic
  • Torey Dolan (’19) (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Native Vote Policy Fellow, Indian Legal Clinic
  • Blair Tarman (’21) (Chickasaw), Native Vote Policy Fellow, Indian Legal Clinic

In addition to the JD program, we also offer a Master of Laws (LLM) program and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program. 

We’ve expanded our presence in Nebraska, California and Washington, D.C. We are a growing network because law is a growing field. Over 375 ILP students have graduated from ASU Law and over 150 received a certificate in Indian Law. 
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Today, we are proud to have 72 students representing 36 tribes: 44 JD, 1 LLM and 27 MLS. 

To our entire ILP family: Happy Native American Heritage Month!