In the latest episode of the Talking Stick, host Derrick Beetso (’10) talks with the Native American Rights Fund executive director John Echohawk and senior staff attorney Joel Williams about NARF’s history, Native religion, law and the Tribal Supreme Court Project.
Listen to this hearty episode.
David Streamer, JD Candidate 2022
Indian Legal Program, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
David Streamer is a second-year law student from the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians in Southern California. David was elected to serve his tribe as a tribal council member in 2018 and re-elected in 2019.
Deeply rooted
Born in his home on the reservation, David continues to serve his tribe while attending ASU Law, with his sole focus on making a positive impact in his community. He ran for council because he thinks young people need to step up and help be a bridge for reservation families. Wanting to create something special in the community for everyone, David is diving into his ASU Law classes as part of the college’s nationally recognized Indian Legal Program. He says ASU Law’s faculty and courses are teaching him how to better serve his tribal government so that he can apply these skills immediately.
Forging ahead
With the past year particularly challenging for David’s community due to the pandemic and power outages, he worked together with the tribe to apply for grants and find resources to help families cover basic needs. Hoping to serve his tribe for many years, David wants to help create more tribally owned and operated businesses and help the youth with educational assistance. It is important to David that young people finish high school and go to college.
Community building
Recently in David’s personal capacity, he decided to go out and grade every family’s driveway in the community. When asked why he did that, he said because people needed it done, and he had time and wanted to help. His heart is on the reservation and in giving back to his tribal members so that they thrive as a community.
David was selected as ASU Law’s nominee for The National Jurist magazine’s 2021 Law Student of the Year recognition. David is a thoughtful tribal leader who has harnessed the power of good for his community. Attending law school is a significant commitment and David’s dedication to his law career and tribal community deserves to be celebrated.
Student attorneys enrolled in the Indian Legal Clinic took part in a two-day Wills Clinic with the Quechan Tribe in March. The clinic was designed to provide Quechan allotment owners with wills that conform to the provisions of American Indian Probate Reform Act. Sixteen Quechan allottees were served in the clinic.
During the first day, each student met with four tribal members in one-on-one counseling sessions. That evening, the students drafted the wills with feedback from ILP Professor Helen Burtis (’07), and Rosette, LLP attorneys Simon Gertler (’18) and Jim Palmer (’04). The following day, the students met again with their clients to review the wills to ensure that each person’s wishes were correctly represented in the documents. The clinic culminated with the students walking each client through a signing ceremony in which the will was executed before witnesses and a notary. The entire process between the students and the clients took place remotely via Zoom.
“With online learning and not seeing as many people in person, it has been hard to stay cause-connected,” said 2L Vinnie Amato, one of the participating students. “Being able to help draft wills for tribal members over Zoom was a great experience because it refocused me on why I joined the Indian Legal Program. I also gained valuable skills I never would have received otherwise.”
Thanks to Professor Burtis for organizing and leading the Wills Clinic, and to attorneys Simon and Jim for their assistance in the drafting process!
Summary:
Provide legal advice and representation, document drafting and collaboration with a wide range of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community policy committees, departments and entities.
Location:
Swinomish Indian Reservation located on Fidalgo Island across the Swinomish Channel from La Conner, WA.
Qualifications:
Have experience or demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: contract drafting and negotiation; drafting statutes, policies and procedures; and representing public or private entities; as well as expertise in at least one of the following substantive fields of law: Human Resources/Employment Law, Health Care, Real Estate, Tribal economic development or private sector commercial transactions, Social Services/Education, or Indian law. Qualified applicants must be licensed or have the ability to become licensed within six months, to practice in Washington.
Submit the following:
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Employment Application and Office
of Tribal Attorney Application Addendum (you may request these via email); cover letter
including an explanation of the applicant’s interest in the position, along with a current resume, the names and contact information for at least three professional references, and two samples of the applicant’s own independent legal writing.
Submit requirements to:
Wendy Otto
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
11404 Moorage Way
La Conner, Washington 98257
Tel: (360) 466-1134
Fax: (360) 466-5309
Email: wotto@swinomish.nsn.us
For Richard Breuninger (MLS ’13), when his mentor ASU’s American Indian Studies Program interim director and associate professor Dr. James Riding In tapped him to teach his course, Sovereignty and the Supreme Court, while he took sabbatical, he didn’t hesitate. Breuninger received encouragement from friends and colleagues, and most notably from his girlfriend, fellow Sun Devil and SPED teacher, Megan Pirehpour, who helped him realize his true calling—to be in front of the classroom.
“There are truly no limits for the future of a student conferring an MLS and especially with an ILP concentration,” said Breuninger. “The amount of support from Kate, Ann Marie, Patty, and all the law professors, give one the confidence to support and advocate on a scholarly and top tier level. It has been the ultimate springboard into my EdD doctoral journey, as I am now within one semester of dissertation defense after I found my own voice leveraging and leaning on the degree to put me in the best possible position for the eventual outcome.”
Safeguarding education and working together to embolden partnerships is what ILP alums like Breuninger understand. He is a proud Oneida member, a triple Sun Devil and is going into his third year teaching and lecturing as a faculty associate at Arizona State University. His course instruction is undergraduate study but is hopeful to expand teaching graduate studies upon completion of his dissertation defense and conferring his terminal degree.
There are truly no limits for the future of a student conferring an MLS and especially with an ILP concentration.
This semester, he is teaching undergraduate courses: Sovereignty and the Supreme Court, Federal Indian Policy, and American Indian and Indigenous Film. While teaching remotely, he has been able to bring in guest speakers including ASU Law faculty associate Carl Artman, Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Lewis and others to “give pure insight and perspective on subject matter previously not available,” he said. Invited to his class, ILP alum and attorney Joe Keene (’12) presented on the McGirt case, its consequences and its impact on Indian law. “I enjoyed the presentation and loved speaking to the college students,” said Keene.
“The students are extremely bright and curious about law school, so I always put the ILP at the mountain top, of course,” said Breuninger.
“It is great to see Richard thriving in the classroom,” said ILP Faculty Director Patty Ferguson-Bohnee. “Richard is engaged in very important research regarding access to higher education for tribal members. His teaching and scholarship have the potential to help guide future pipeline programs.”
He is a thoughtful and committed ally whose inclusive curriculum is positively impacting students. We appreciate you, Richard!
________
Danielle Williams
Program Coordinator, Indian Legal Program, ASU Law
TRIBAL LIAISON SPECIALIST (GRADUATE/LAW STUDENT) –
INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS (IYSC) INTERNSHIP
Start Date & End Date:
May 16, 2021 to May 14, 2022
Location:
NPS Office of Native American Affairs, Washington, DC Headquarters Office
Summary:
This Tribal Liaison Internship position will report to the Office of Native American Affairs in support of the Office of Native American Affairs for the National Park Service in Washington, DC. The long-term goal of the completion of these four projects is to bring greater relevance to the Office of Native American Affairs by providing current guidance and internal documents and information for National Park Service staff to have available as tools to provide active and robust consultations with Tribes, Tribal representatives, Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian organizations on possible undertakings, and other topics and issues related and of interest to Indian Country. Etc…
Requirements:
• Must be Native American, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian.
• Must be 18 to 30 years of age, or a Veteran 35 years of age or younger.
• Must have substantial experience productively working with tribal nations and indigenous communities.
• Must be able to demonstrate a degree of familiarity with fundamental concepts including tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and federal trust responsibilities to tribal nations. Etc…
See full job announcement:
Attorney-Advisor – Full-Time
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DHS Headquarters
Office of Chief Counsel
Open & Closing dates:
03/10/2021 to 03/09/2022
Location:
2 vacancies in Washington D.C
Summary:
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel, General Law Division.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve the Office of the General Counsel as a legal advisor. The individual will provide legal advice, litigation support, and training for DHS Headquarters activities and programs in the area of acquisitions and procurements within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Requirements:
• The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); or
• The second professional law degree (LL.M.) AND
• Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship… Etc
See full job announcement and application details:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/594702600
Agency contact information:
Lori Pollacci
Phone: 2023578668
Email: lori.pollacci@hq.dhs.gov
Ten ASU NALSA students received the NABA-AZ Scholarship for their academic achievement. Congratulations to all the recipients, especially our ILP students: Mariah Black Bird (3L), Brendan Clark (3L), Hilary Edwards (2L), Dallon Echo Hawk (2L), Brittany Habbart (1L), Michael LaValley (1L), Aspen Miller (3L), Taylor Norman (2L), McArthur Stant II (3L) and Ruben Zendejas (1L).
Thank you to NABA-AZ for continuing to support Arizona law students, especially during the pandemic.
NABA-AZ will recognize all the scholarship winners on March 26 at Noon during a virtual event. Please join the event and celebrate our outstanding students.
The Native American Pipeline to Law Pre-Law team will be hosting Online Sessions this summer. These sessions will help students successfully navigate the law school application process. It doesn’t matter which school you are coming from and which school you choose, we want to help you get there.
Apply by May 3. Spots fill up fast!
Submit your application at: law.asu.edu/pipelinetolaw
For several years now, ASU’s Indigenous Research Roundtable (IRR) has connected Indigenous scholars and allies through a monthly seminar featuring new, cutting-edge scholarship conducted with, by and for Indigenous communities. The IRR was originally organized by Dr. Angela Gonzales from ASU’s School of Social Transformation and hosted at Tempe campus. As the ASU Downtown campus has grown to include numerous ASU colleges, schools and programs serving Indian Country—including Social Work, Journalism, Health Sciences, Law and many others—the IRR is, for the first time, being hosted by two downtown campus Indigenous faculty, ASU Law Professor Trevor Reed and School of Social Work Professor Felicia Mitchell.
“As a new faculty member at ASU, IRR provided me opportunities to meet and connect with Indigenous scholars and allies across ASU,” said Professor Mitchell. “The IRR has also been a supportive space to highlight the important work my colleagues and I are involved in throughout Indian Country.”
In the fall semester, the IRR featured two thought-provoking presentations showcasing the diversity of Indigenous research happening at ASU. On Nov. 4, Professors David Manuel-Navarrete and Tod D. Swanson shared their experiences establishing a new field school in partnership with Tribes in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The field school educates university students from around the world about Kichwa approaches to climate science and biodiversity while also providing a stream of sustainable income for Kichwa peoples. On Dec. 9, Professor Matt Ignacio presented the results of his groundbreaking study of harm-reduction interventions aimed at Indigenous youth who may be at risk for alcohol and other drug use. Then on Jan. 27, School of Social Work Professor Shanondora Billiot shared her research on the effects of land-based healing programs on the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities in Louisiana. Ending the roundtable sessions for the academic year, Professor Robert J. Miller presented his current research on the landmark Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma on March 24.
For more information about the Indigenous Research Roundtable or to participate in a roundtable next year, please contact Professor Reed at t.reed@asu.edu.