Category Archives: Alumni

Shana Barehand to present in DC

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From SAIGE:

Go to this website and listen to our Treasurer Shana Barehand present the issue of the murals at the Ariel Rios Building (EPA HQ) in Washington, DC, and make the case for their removal. LWFriday, September 25, 2009 – Censorship…: Who Should Say What Art Is?: (listen) If art is the freedom of expression then how can censorship even be an issue? When it comes to Native imagery or Natives creating images, the word censorship is no stranger. There are numerous images, sculptures and murals connected to or depicting the world of the Native American that have caused a stir for one reason or another. So when the heavy hand of censorship pounds down on the work of a Native artist, just what is the reality behind the word “no.” And when it comes to images that depict Natives in the savage form by non-Natives and a motion for its removal is brought forward by Natives, just how does this play into censorship? Guests are Native artist Bob Haozous from the Ft. Sill Apache Tribe and Treasurer for the Society of American Indian Government Employees, Shana Barehand. (Bob Haozous is the son of the late very well respected artist, Alan Houser.)

Go to: http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/nac_past2009.shtmlScroll down toward the bottom of the page and you will find the link to listen to the program for Sept. 25. It took them awhile to get this up on the website for listening. It will open and play with your default media player.For the history of SAIGE’s involvement with this issue you can go to our website at:http://www.saige.org/epamural/epamural.htm http://%20http//www.nativeamericacalling.com/nac_past2009.shtmlRead More

Alumni: Diane Humetewa (’93)

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Diane Humetewa (’93) will join the international law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey. The firm is headquartered in Cleveland w/offices in Phoenix, D.C., NY, CA, Japan, and Ireland. Humetewa will be a Principle in their Public Advocacy Group and counsel to their Environmental, Litigation and Corporate practice groups.

Linda Benally receives State Bar Award

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Linda Dayish Benally (Class of 2003) received the Hal Israel Community Service Award at the State Bar’s Annual Convention. The Hal Isreal Award which recognizes a young lawyer who gives generously of his or her time and knowledge to the community through Bar-sponsored programs and initiatives. The award is named for Herman Allen “Hal” Israel, whose great mind and generous spirit were inspirational. Benally, a member of the Diné Nation, is an attorney at Pinnacle West Capital Corp., where she practices regulatory and contract law. Her list of service is lengthy: she is on the State Bar of Arizona’s Diversity Task Force, served on the Bar Leadership Institute’s inaugural Board of Directors/Selection Panel, is a founding member and board member of the Native American Bar Association of Arizona, is on the board of the Phoenix Indian Center and the National Native American Bar Association and also gives her time to several other organizations.

Borchardt (’09) Quoted in "The Spectrum’

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Nikki Borchardt, Class of 2009 graduate of the College of Law and member of the Paiute Tribe of Utah, recently emceed her tribe’s Queen and Princess Pageant at the Restoration Gathering, according to the story, “Paiute Tribe celebrates Restoration Gathering, commemoration” on thespectrum.com, a Web site managed by The Spectrum newspaper. The Restoration Gathering was a weekend-long celebration commemorating the restoration of the Paiutes as a recognized American Indian tribe. The pageant showcases modern as well as traditional American Indian talents.
Borchardt, the first of her tribe to receive a law degree, is quoted as explaining, “In the 1950’s we lost the right to our land, health services and fiduciary protection, among other things. In 1980, the Federal Restoration Act restored the relationship with the government and we were able to put our land back into trusts and be recognized as a tribe again.”
Borchardt participated in Moot Court competitions at the law school, was awarded the Honorable William C. Canby Jr. Scholarship, earned both a Juris Doctorate and a Certificate in Indian Law, and graduated with pro bono distinction.

Humetewa announces resignation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Public Affairs
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 SANDY RAYNOR
Telephone: (602) 514-7625
U.S. ATTORNEY IN ARIZONA ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

PHOENIX – U.S. Attorney Diane J. Humetewa announced today that she will resign from her position as United States Attorney for the District of Arizona effective August 2, 2009. Ms. Humetewa was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in as U.S. Attorney on December 17, 2007. The District of Arizona is comprised of the entire state of Arizona, and includes 15 counties, 22 Indian nations and the fifth largest metropolitan city in the nation. The office currently has over 300 employees, having grown by 20 percent during Ms. Humetewa’s tenure.
“It has been a great privilege to serve the citizens of Arizona in this office,” stated U.S. Attorney Humetewa. “I am grateful to the entire U.S. Attorney staff for their daily commitment in the pursuit of justice for our citizens, and I am also grateful to all our federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners whose hard work is indispensable in that pursuit. I also thank the Arizona Congressional delegation, the Arizona federal court judges, the United States Attorney General, and the President for the opportunity to serve the nation.”
Arizona officials praised Ms. Humetewa’s tenure as U.S. Attorney, during which she led the office in a high profile public integrity prosecution, oversaw the expansion of the District office to address southwest border security challenges, provided victim advocacy services to crime victims, and advanced unprecedented collaboration with Arizona’s tribal nations. She has served as a key advisor to the Justice Department leadership in both administrations on border crimes, federal victim rights and Indian Country issues.
“Diane Humetewa has been a groundbreaking United States Attorney for Arizona,” stated U.S. Senator Jon Kyl. “She is the first Native American woman and, as far as I know, the first victim advocate, to serve our nation in this important office. During her tenure she has been a well respected prosecutor handling difficult cases from violent crime to serious antiquities thefts. Diane leaves office with the respect of all law enforcement and the thanks of the nation she served.”
One of her first acts was to announce the indictment of then-Congressman Richard Renzi on 33 counts of embezzlement and the misuse of his public office for financial gain. The prosecution is ongoing. Last month, Ms. Humetewa’s office announced the indictment of two Illinois brothers on charges they conspired in the February 2004 package bombing that injured two people at the Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue. Ms. Humetewa also collaborated with the FBI to prosecute a number of serial bank robbers who were responsible for a rash of bank robberies throughout the Valley earlier this year.
“United States Attorney Diane Humetewa has vigorously supported FBI Phoenix Division’s investigations during her tenure and has been a strong proponent of victim’s rights in matters such as Crimes against Children, Mortgage Fraud, and Indian Country Crimes. U.S. Attorney Humetewa’s strengths have been her relentless pursuit of justice and compassion for crime victims,” stated Special Agent in Charge Nathan Gray, FBI Phoenix Division.
“United States Attorney Humetewa has worked tirelessly to make Arizona and the United States a safer place,” stated Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona. “She has been a strong partner with law enforcement agencies from all levels of government, including federal, state, local and tribal governments. Her support of the Department of Homeland Security law enforcement agencies, in particular U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been a key part of our ability to make the border more secure and our citizens safer. Diane has also been a strong advocate for victims and victim’s rights and has worked to bring more prosecutorial resources to this District so that we can bring more significant cases against the criminal organizations that we target.”
Challenges along the southwest border include drug cartels and other smuggling organizations that have become increasingly violent and ruthless in Arizona. She took office when the demands to do more with fewer human resources were frequent. To meet this challenge, the Justice Department funded the expansion of the office in the District of Arizona, adding 20 attorneys and 40 support staff to meet prosecution demands. Under Ms. Humetewa’s leadership, border crime prosecutions increased in 2009 by over 70% in Tucson and over 50% in Phoenix from the previous year.
Beth Kempshall, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration in Arizona, commented that, “As United States Attorney, Diane Humetewa was confronted with unprecedented challenges from the Mexican Cartels as they attempted to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States. The leadership and commitment that Diane demonstrated strengthened the efforts of law enforcement against these ruthless criminal enterprises. Ms. Humetewa dedicated herself to making Arizona a safer place for all of us.”
Early in her tenure, Ms. Humetewa established a firearms unit to focus on federal gun laws that penalize career criminals, criminal aliens and firearms traffickers. The firearms unit was recently touted by Justice Department officials as a model for firearms trafficking prosecutions. Every day she has fostered cooperative law enforcement efforts with federal, state, local and tribal partners to fight the violent trade in people, drugs and guns.
Bill Newell, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, stated that , “It has been an honor and a pleasure to work alongside Diane during her tenure as Arizona’s U.S. Attorney. I have witnessed her be a tireless advocate for victim’s rights in pursuit of the Department of Justice’s primary mission to serve and protect the citizens of this great nation. Similarly her dedication to the Native American community has been second to none and the Arizona ATF office will honor her service to these communities by continuing to serve them to our fullest ability.”
As the U.S. Justice Department’s lead interlocutor with Arizona’s tribal nations and a nationally recognized expert in Indian Country criminal justice issues, Ms. Humetewa took bold steps to enhance collaboration with Arizona tribes. In cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, her office conducted training to enable over 200 tribal police officers to receive
special certification to enforce federal laws on Indian lands. Recognizing the connection between substance abuse and violent crime, Ms. Humetewa formed partnerships with federal, state and tribal agencies, resulting in dozens of prosecutions of methamphetamine traffickers and bootleggers in Indian Country, a main contributing factor to violent crimes. A public awareness campaign, now in demand nationwide, encouraged greater Indian tribal community involvement to combat gangs and drugs.
“Diana Humetewa’s tenure as Arizona’s U.S. Attorney will be considered a milestone as she has applied her high level of legal knowledge, experienced professional skills and dedication to the complex justice system of our times,” stated John Lewis, Executive Director of the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. “The American Indian community proudly commends her work as a U.S. Attorney that has furthered the cause of justice for all people and improved a better understanding of justice issues in Indian Country.”
Sheila Morago, Director of the Arizona Indian Tribal Gaming Association, added that, “Diane was the spearhead for the creation of an MOU for funding of an Assistant United States Attorney that handles nothing but Indian Gaming crimes in Arizona. This unique position is funded by the Arizona Department of Gaming through the funds from Arizona’s Indian Gaming facilities and is the only position of its kind in the country. The agreement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Arizona Department of Gaming and the Arizona Tribes would not have been possible if it weren’t for Diane’s knowledge of all three entities. This agreement is a testament to the trust that the tribes have in her.”
Additionally, in June 2009, Ms. Humetewa was awarded the Women in Federal Law Enforcement’s (WIFLE) highest honorary award, the President’s Award, in recognition for the outstanding achievements during her career as a prosecutor, a crime victims’ advocate and for her dedication to the training of law enforcement to enhance their response to crimes on the tribal lands.

Furnish & Attakai present at Navajo Nation Judicial Conference

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Professor Emeritus Dale Beck Furnish and ILP alumnus Shawn Attakai (’00) participated in a panel at the Navajo Nation’s Annual Judicial Conference, “Navajo Justice 1959 – 2009 — 50 Years of Reflection,” on June 17 at the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Furnish, along with Justice Emeritus and Adjunct Assistant Professor Raymond Austin of the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, and Shawn Attakai, a Kayenta Judicial District staff attorney, were on the panel, Fundamental Law / Navajo Statutory Law / Federal Requirement. Two of Furnish’s articles on Navajo Nation law were used as the basis for the three-hour discussion.

ILP co-presents environmental workshop

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Ann Marie DownesThe application of federal environmental law in Indian Country was the focus of a workshop presented by the College of Law’s Indian Legal Program and the ASU American Indian Policy Institute on May 27 on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Ann Marie Downes, director of the College’s Indian Legal Graduate Programs, and Patricia Mariella, the institute’s director, conducted the workshop for the Community’s Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department.
Among discussion topics were well-known cases in Indian law, including Dura v. Reina, which originated on the Salt River-Maricopa Indian Community. Other discussion centered on the development of federal Indian policy, civil and regulatory jurisdictional issues.
The workshop is the first of several on environmental compliance and enforcement that the institute will be conducting with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.