JOB: Crow Legislative Branch - Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY: Crow Tribe Legislative Branch. Full-time in-house attorney, Crow Agency, MT. 3+ years experience preferred. Minimum qualifications include: license to practice law in State of Montana, strong research and writing skills, respect for and familiarity with Native American and Crow tribal law and history. General and flexible practice areas include analysis and drafting of proposed legislation and ordinances, land and environmental issues, employment law, contract review, and litigation. Salary DOE. Position open until filled. Crow Tribal and Native American preference may apply. Please submit cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, writing sample, and a list of three references to: ATTN: Manuel Cover Up, Sr., Speaker of the House, P.O. Box 309, Crow Agency, Montana 59022.

All applications held confidential.

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law Video

Friends,

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law is pioneering a new model for 21st century legal education, one that reinvents the modern law school as not just an institution that trains lawyers, but as a multifaceted legal studies center that engages in developing solutions to the world's global challenges and that seeks to educate a broad cross section of contemporary society. We call this vision Legal Education in the Future Tense.

I am pleased to share this brief video with you to give you an idea of some of the many ways in which the College of Law is poised to be an integral part of solving global challenges, both today and in the future. We encourage you to submit your comments about the new model for 21st century legal education through the link at the end of the video, http://www.law.asu.edu/ideas.

Paul Schiff Berman
Dean

Carl Artman testified at Senate Hearing

Carl Artman testified at an oversight hearing on Wednesday, December 9th.

Where’s the Trustee? Department of Interior Backlogs Prevent Tribes from Using their Lands View Webcast

WitnessesPanel 1MR. GEORGE SKIBINE Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC Accompanied by: MS. VICKI FORREST, Deputy Bureau Director for TrustServices, Ll.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

Panel 2MR. CARL J. ARTMAN Esquire, Professor of Practice, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

THE HONORABLE DEREK BAILEY Chairman, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Peshawbestown, Michigan

Clinton Quoted in New York Times

Robert Clinton Professor Robert Clinton was quoted in The New York Times and The Arizona Republic in articles about the historic multi-billion dollar settlement of a 13-year-old lawsuit filed over mismanagement of the American Indian trust funds.

The Dec. 9 article in The New York Times, by reporter Charlie Savage, called the lawsuit "one of the largest and most complicated class-action lawsuits ever brought against the United States." It involved hundreds of thousands of land trust accounts that date to the 19th century.
The lawsuit would pay $1.4 billion to compensate Indians for claims of historical irregularities, and use $3 billion to buy back portions of land that have been fractionalized over several generations.

As Savage explained in his article, one 40-acre parcel today has 439 owners, most of whom receive less than $1 a year in income from it. The parcel is valued at about $20,000, but costs the government more than $40,000 a year to administer those trusts.

Savage quoted Clinton as saying that the settlement alone will not resolve the trust problem because many of the heirs who own tiny interests in parcels may not be willing to sell them.
Read The New York Times article here.

Dawn Bitz ('03) Assistant US Attorney in Montana

U.S. Attorney in Montana gains Indian law experts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Filed Under: Law

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana has added two Indian law experts to its team.

Dawn Bitz-Running Wolf, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, will serve as assistant U.S. attorney in the Great Falls. She will act as liaison between the office and tribes in the state. Diane Cabrera, a prosecutor for the Crow Tribe, will serve as a special assistant in for the U.S. attorney. She is believed to be the first tribal prosecutor to serve in that capacity. “Both of them have an awful lot of practical experience they bring on Day One to help us do this work,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Mercer, The Billings Gazette reported.

Get the Story:Prosecution gets tribal expertise (The Billings Gazette 12/11)

Professor Clinton Quoted in Cobell Article

Feds, Indians reach $3.4 billion settlement in royalty suit
Dan Nowicki - Dec. 9, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

More than 300,000 American Indians, including about 20,000 in Arizona, would settle their long-standing complaints about U.S. mismanagement of their trust accounts for $1.4 billion, under an agreement announced Tuesday by the Obama administration.

The settlement, which must be approved by Congress and a federal judge, would end a complicated and bitter class-action lawsuit that dates to President Bill Clinton's administration.
The suit alleges that sloppy bookkeeping by the federal government has robbed the Indians of more than a century's worth of revenue from mining, grazing, logging and other uses of their land.

Also, as part of the settlement, the federal government will introduce a $2 billion program to buy back and consolidate Indian land that had been "fractionated" into multiple individual owners over generations, making it difficult to develop.

The Interior Department would reform its accounting practices to ensure better quality control of individual Indian trust accounts and assets.

"Today is a monumental day for all of the people in Indian country who have waited so long for justice," said Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet Tribe member from Browning, Mont., and the lead plaintiff who filed the lawsuit in 1996.

A database released by the Interior Department's Office of Special Trustee for American Indians shows 20,393 Native Americans who live in Arizona hold Individual Indian Money Accounts that would qualify them for compensation under the proposed settlement.

That number includes members of out-of-state tribes who reside here, as well as members of Arizona-based Indian communities living in the state.

Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl of Arizona applauded the prospect of a settlement, which was announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Attorney General Eric Holder.
"The settlement not only resolves past issues but charts a way forward in a manner intended to prevent future disputes," Kyl said.

As then-chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, McCain introduced legislation in 2005 in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the dispute.

"The financial mismanagement of American Indian trust accounts has long plagued relations between the U.S. government and American Indians," McCain said.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to determine the next steps for congressional action on this matter."

Among the Arizona tribes with the highest number of affected members are the Gila River Indian Community, the Navajo Nation, the Tohono O'odham Nation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
President Barack Obama called the development "an important step towards a sincere reconciliation
<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/12/09/20091209cobell1209.html#> between the trust beneficiaries and the federal government" that will lead to better future management of Indian assets.

He urged Congress to take swift action to "correct this long-standing injustice" by endorsing the settlement.

The money for the settlement would come out of a litigation fund maintained by the Justice and Treasury departments and wouldn't require a new congressional appropriation.

"As a candidate, I heard from many in Indian country that the Cobell suit remained a stain on the nation-to-nation relationship I value so much," Obama said in a written statement. "I pledged my commitment to resolving this issue, and I am proud that my administration has taken this step today."

The proposed $3.4 billion settlement represents a small percentage of what the Indians say they've lost since 1887. In the past, Cobell and her lawyers <http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/12/09/20091209cobell1209.html#> had claimed the Interior Department owed Indian landowners more than $100 billion.

For her part, Cobell said she personally would have preferred to "litigate for another 100 years." But many of her fellow beneficiaries are elderly, and the majority live in poverty. They need their money and probably can't wait for the court case to drag on for 20 more years, she said.
The conciliatory attitude of the Obama administration, which she characterized as a refreshing change from President George W. Bush's Interior Department, also helped make the time right for a settlement.

"Did we get all the money that was due us? Probably not, but . . . there are too many individual Indian beneficiaries that are dying every single day without their money," Cobell said. "At least this settlement will give those particular people a payment of that money that has been due them for a number of years."

John Lewis, executive director of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, called the settlement "a positive action, a good sign for this administration." His non-profit group, overseen by Arizona tribal leaders, promotes Indian self-reliance.

The Interior Department says it oversees approximately 56 million acres of Indian trust land and $3.5 billion in trust funds and administers more than 100,000 leases. The Cobell class action charged that, for more than 100 years, the federal government did not accurately keep track of royalties <http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/12/09/20091209cobell1209.html#> owed to the Indians for farming, grazing, mining, logging and other activities.

Under the settlement's $1.4 billion payout, the typical individual in the historical accounting class would get $1,000. The exact number of Indian beneficiaries is unclear. The Interior Department put the figure at more than 300,000, but it could be more than 500,000.

The settlement's land-consolidation provision is an attempt to undo the consequences of the Dawes Act of 1887, which cut up tribal lands into pieces of 40 acres and 160 acres and allotted them to individual Indians.

Over the years, the properties were divided among their children, grandchildren and subsequent generations until the point where some parcels now have so many owners that productive development is all but impossible. The new program would allow the government to buy back pieces, if the owners wanted to sell, and assemble larger, more useful tracts that the Indian communities would control.

Robert Clinton, an Arizona State University professor who specializes in Indian law, was skeptical that the plan would eliminate the problems associated with the fractional allotments.
"Not immediately," he said, "and not totally."

Republic reporter Dennis Wagner contributed to this article.

Cobell settlement

U.S. Department of the Interior
Date: December 8, 2009
Contact: Kendra Barkoff, 202-208-6416
Frank Quimby (202) 208-7291
Melissa Schwartz (DOJ) 202-514-2007

Secretary Salazar, Attorney General Holder Announce Settlement of Cobell Lawsuit on Indian Trust Management

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Attorney General Eric Holder today announced a settlement of the long-running and highly contentious Cobell class-action lawsuit regarding the U.S. government's trust management and accounting of over three hundred thousand individual American Indian trust accounts. Also speaking at the press conference today were Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes and Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli.

“This is an historic, positive development for Indian country and a major step on the road to reconciliation following years of acrimonious litigation between trust beneficiaries and the United States,” Secretary Salazar said. “Resolving this issue has been a top priority of President Obama, and this administration has worked in good faith to reach a settlement that is both honorable and responsible. This historic step will allow Interior to move forward and address the educational, law enforcement, and economic development challenges we face in Indian Country.”

“Over the past thirteen years, the parties have tried to settle this case many, many times, each time unsuccessfully," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "But today we turn the page. This settlement is fair to the plaintiffs, responsible for the United States, and provides a path forward for the future.”

Under the negotiated agreement, litigation will end regarding the Department of the Interior’s performance of an historical accounting for trust accounts maintained by the United States on behalf of more than 300,000 individual Indians. A fund totaling $1.4 billion will be distributed to class members to compensate them for their historical accounting claims, and to resolve potential claims that prior U.S. officials mismanaged the administration of trust assets.

In addition, in order to address the continued proliferation of thousands of new trust accounts caused by the "fractionation" of land interests through succeeding generations, the settlement establishes a $2 billion fund for the voluntary buy-back and consolidation of fractionated land interests. The land consolidation program will provide individual Indians with an opportunity to obtain cash payments for divided land interests and free up the land for the benefit of tribal communities.

By reducing the number of individual trust accounts that the U.S must maintain, the program will greatly reduce on-going administrative expenses and future accounting-related disputes. In order to provide owners with an additional incentive to sell their fractionated interests, the settlement authorizes the Interior Department to set aside up to 5 percent of the value of the interests into a college and vocational school scholarship fund for American Indian students. The settlement has been negotiated with the involvement of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It will not become final until it is formally endorsed by the court. Also, Congress must enact legislation to authorize implementation of the settlement. Because it is a settlement of a litigation matter, the Judgment Fund maintained by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury will fund the settlement. “While we have made significant progress in improving and strengthening the management of Indian trust assets, our work is not over,” said Salazar, who also announced he is establishing a national commission to evaluate ongoing trust reform efforts and make recommendations for the future management of individual trust account assets in light of a congressional sunset provision for the Office of Special Trustee, which was established by Congress in 1994 to reform financial management of the trust system. The class action case, which involves several hundred thousand plaintiffs, was filed by Elouise Cobell in 1996 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and has included hundreds of motions, dozens of rulings and appeals, and several trials over the past 13 years. The settlement funds will be administered by the trust department of a bank approved by the district court and distributed to individual Indians by a claims administrator in accordance with court orders and the settlement agreement. Interior currently manages about 56 million acres of Indian trust land, administering more than 100,000 leases and about $3.5 billion in trust funds. For fiscal year 2009, funds from leases, use permits, land sales and income from financial assets, totaling about $298 million were collected for more than 384,000 open Individual Indian Money accounts and $566 million was collected for about 2,700 tribal accounts for more than 250 tribes. Since 1996, the U.S. Government has collected over $10.4 billion from individual and tribal trust assets and disbursed more than $9.5 billion to individual account holders and tribal governments. The land consolidation fund addresses a legacy of the General Allotment Act of 1887 (the “Dawes Act”), which divided tribal lands into parcels between 40 and 160 acres in size, allotted them to individual Indians and sold off all remaining unallotted Indian lands. As the original holders died, their intestate heirs received an equal, undivided interest in the lands as tenants in common. In successive generations, smaller undivided interests descended to the next generation.

Today, it is common to have hundreds—even thousands—of Indian owners for one parcel of land. Such highly fractionated ownership makes it extremely difficult to use the land productively or to provide beneficial use for any individual. Absent serious corrective action, an estimated 4 million acres of land will continue to be held in such small ownership interests that very few individual owners will ever derive any meaningful financial benefit from that ownership.
Additional Information is available at the following sites: http://www.cobellsettlement.com/.The Department of the Interior website: http://www.doi.gov/. The Office of the Special Trustee website: www.ost.doi.gov

Statement by the President on Native American Heritage Day

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________
For Immediate Release November 25, 2009

Statement by the President on Native American Heritage Day

“Tomorrow, Americans everywhere will observe our National Day of Thanksgiving. It will be a time of celebration and reflection as we gather with family and friends to count our blessings and remember those less fortunate. But it will also be a time to remember how this holiday began– as a harvest celebration between European settlers and the American Indians who had been living and thriving on the continent for thousands of years.”

“That is why on Friday, I encourage every American to join me in observing Native American Heritage Day. My Administration is committed to strengthening the nation to nation relationship with tribal governments. But it is also important for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition and history of Native Americans and their status today- and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made, and will continue to make to our Nation.”

Prof. Patty Ferguson-Bohnee testifies at US Senate Committee hearing

On November 4th, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, at an oversight hearing on "Fixing the Federal Acknowledgment Process." She did an outstanding job and everyone here at the Indian Legal Program and Indian Legal Clinic is extremely proud to have her as a colleague. Watch her testimony at http://www.law.asu.edu/?id=2102

Kerry Patterson ('01) joins Lewis and Roca

Kerry Patterson recently joined the Phoenix office of Lewis and Roca as Of Counsel. See link below.


http://www.lrlaw.com/professionals/xprProfessionalDetailsLR.aspx?xpST=ProfessionalDetail&professional=272

Kerry was named 2009 Arizona Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree. Ms. Patterson was also a Native American 40 Under 40 award winner, as presented by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in 2009. The group recognizes outstanding young Native Americans throughout the United STates who have shown excellence in community and professional endeavors.

Helen Burtis Joins Rosette & Associates

Helen Burtis ('07) joined the firmed Rosette & Associates Chandler, Arizona office. See more information about Helen at the link below.

http://www.rosettelaw.com/attorney-bio-burtis.html

Tsosie Book Review

Rebecca Tsosie has a book review in the recently published American Indian Culture and Research Journal, volume 33, number 3, page 137. It is a book review of Rebuilding Native Nations: Strategies for Governance and Development.

American Indian Policy Institute Blog

Check it out! http://aipi.clas.asu.edu/blog/1

Save the Date: Repatriation at Twenty & The Canby Lecture

January 28 & 29, 2010
Great Hall
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona

Free and Open to the Public. Registration encouraged for planning purposes.
http://community.law.asu.edu/event/Repatat20

JOB: Tribal Judge Tesuque Pueblo

Contact: Serena Hena
Employer: Pueblo of Tesuque
Address1: Rt 42 Box 360T
CityStateZip: Santa Fe, NM 87506
Email: shena@pueblooftesuque.org
Phone: 505-955-7717
Fax: 505-982-2331
AcceptingCalls: Yes

JobTitle: Tribal Judge
Salary: 80 - 95K
Hours: 40/wk
Description: Summary Description: Work under the general supervision of the Governor and Tribal Council. Tribal Judge is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the Tribal Court system including but not limited to: Civil, Criminal, Traffic and Juvenile Cases/Reviews; Trials, Civil hearings; Arraignments, Joint and Separate Trials, Dismissal, Other Preliminary Matters; Maintenance of an ongoing referral system for offenders including completion or default of court ordered treatment. Ensure financial accountability regarding collection of all court fines/fees and the Tribal Court budget. Supervise court staff.
Minimum Qualifications:
? Juris Doctor (JD) received from an (ABA) accredited law school or equivalent of ten (10) years experience in the field of court systems.
? Considerable knowledge of Federal Indian Law with emphasis on issues of tribal sovereignty and tribal government.
? Familiarity with monitoring PL638 contracts, and applying for and monitoring state and federal grants.
? Must clear pre-employment background check and drug screen.
? Qualified Native American Preference.
　
Experience: Current Bar Members
Submit: Resume,Cover Letter,References
SubmitOther:
SendBy: Fax,Email
Deadline: 12/2/09

Indian Legal Clinic in DC

On behalf of the ILP, I wanted to share exciting news and a link. Patty Ferguson Bohnee and four Indian Legal Clinic students are in Washington DC today. Patty was asked to present testimony at an oversight hearing on “Fixing the Federal Acknowledgment Process” for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Patty was invited to speak last week and the students helped her prepare her testimony. If you would like to see the testimony you can watch now at the following link. http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream It is my understanding that Patty will be the last speaker today. On a side note, the students will also have an opportunity to watch a Supreme Court oral argument while in DC. What a great opportunity for our students!

Kerry Patterson ('01) Indian Country Today Story

Kerry Patterson: A healthy balance for Indian country
By Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, Today correspondent
Story Published: Oct 31, 2009
Story Updated: Oct 30, 2009

PHOENIX – Kerry Patterson has juggled a family, school and work in an effort to give back to Indian country.Patterson, 38, has been practicing law for eight years and is the transitional attorney for Fennemore Craig PC in Phoenix, Ariz. She handles real estate, corporate law, leasing and anything that pertains to economic development. She was recently named a winner of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 Under 40 awards.

Patterson grew up in western New York on the Cattaraugus reservation and is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation; the nation is one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy and has more than 7,200 enrolled members, according to the Seneca Nation Web site.Patterson attended SUNY Fredonia while working for the Seneca Nation as the human resource manager in the enterprise division and being a full-time mother. Patterson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and was the first from her family to graduate college.

“My sister has always been a self-motivated individual. Despite many adversities she encountered throughout her life, she has always managed to remain focused on her goals,” said Gerri Printup, Patterson’s sister. “While attending college she was able to balance family and work, while being on the Dean’s List.” Her sister inspired her to go to college, and Printup received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and works for the Seneca Nation in the planning department. Patterson also has a brother named Aaron.

In I998, Patterson moved her family to Phoenix, Ariz. where she continued her education at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. “While I was getting my bachelor’s degree I wanted to help all tribes and the best way I thought was by being educated in law.”

Patterson has three children named Jordy, 19, Jake, 12 and Alexa, 4. She said it was hard juggling a family and law school. But her husband, Al, and her family has always been supportive. “My grandma and mom both came out (from New York) to help me with the kids when I needed them,” Patterson said. “It was challenging moving to a new place, but it made us stronger.” Patterson’s father is an iron worker and her mother was the clerk for the Seneca Nation which is one of the three highest positions. The other two positions are president and treasurer. “She has always been a good role model for me.”

Patterson’s latest project is working with the Navajo Code Talker Association. The association received a 200-acre lot donation from Chevron Mining Company in New Mexico and they want to build a museum on the lot. The site is located along Highway 264 between Gallup, N.M. and Window Rock, Ariz. “If we don’t get stories in a museum they (code talkers) will pass and nothing will be on record,” Patterson said. “There needs to be a place for all their memorabilia and stories.”

Patterson is excited about the opportunity to work with the code talkers; she enjoys working with Native elders, especially listening and learning from their stories. She said this is the most meaningful project she is working on right now since there is no place where you can go to learn about code talkers.“ I consider it an honor and privilege to work with the code talkers on this project. They are the true American heroes and their story is one that all Native people can take pride in. It is exciting to be involved in a project that will serve as a lasting tribute to the unique contribution of the Navajo code talkers.” Patterson hopes to continue to use her legal education and experience to work on other projects that benefit Indian country.

In her spare time, Patterson enjoys running and competing in mini-triathlons. She likes spending time with her children and watching them play sports. Jordy plays lacrosse, Jake plays golf and Alexa is a swimmer.

General Counsel Job Posting

Pueblo of Pojoaque

General Counsel

The Pueblo of Pojoaque is accepting applications
for General Counsel.
Applicant will assume
diverse roles while working with Pueblopeople, their government and Pueblo corporations.
A background of federal Indian law is
essential. Primary areas of practice include the
areas of domestic affairs, tribal corporations,
water law and general civil law. Criminal lawpractice is at a minimum. Litigation experience
in tribal, state and federal court is highly
prized. Salary is dependent on experience.
Position will be filled within 30 days of this
posting. Send resumes via e-mail to fdemolli@
puebloofpojoaque.org

Associate Attorney Job Posting

Associate Attorney
The Nordhaus Law Firm, LLP is seeking a full
time associate attorney with one to three years
of relevant experience to work primarily on
Indian water rights litigation in our Santa Fe,
New Mexico office starting as soon as possible.
Demonstrated interest in Indian law is required.
Experience in water law and/or Indian law is
strongly preferred. The Firm is dedicated to the
representation of Indian Tribes and Tribal entities
on environmental issues, natural resource
protection and development, jurisdictional
issues, Tribal governance issues, economic development
projects, and in administrative and regulatory
processes as well as in trial and appellate
litigation. Native Americans are encouraged to
apply. Please apply immediately by submitting:
(1) a cover letter describing your interest in and
qualifications for the position, (2) a resume, (3)
a legal writing sample, (4) a list of references,
and (5) an official law school transcript to Hiring
Partner Santa Fe Position, Nordhaus Law
Firm, LLP, 1239 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe,
NM 87501. You may submit your application by
email to hiringpartner@nordhauslaw.com.

ALUMNI: Debra Gee ('94)

Debra Gee ('94) is the Deputy Attorney General for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Justice in Ada, Oklahoma.

Ferguson-Bohnee to testify before Congress

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Legal Clinic, has been asked to testify on "Fixing the Federal Acknowledgment Process" before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Ferguson-Bohnee has substantial experience in Indian law, election law and policy matters, voting rights, and status clarification of tribes. She has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Louisiana State Legislature regarding tribal recognition, and has successfully assisted four Louisiana tribes in obtaining state recognition. She has represented tribal clients in administrative, state, federal, and tribal courts, as well as before state and local governing bodies and proposed revisions to the Real Estate Disclosure Reports to include tribal provisions. She has assisted in complex voting rights litigation on behalf of tribes, and she has drafted state legislative and congressional testimony on behalf of tribes with respect to voting rights' issues.

Before joining the College in 2008, Ferguson-Bohnee clerked for Judge Betty Binns Fletcher of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and was an associate in the Indian Law and Tribal Relations Practice Group at Sacks Tierney P.A. in Phoenix. As a Fulbright Scholar to France, she researched French colonial relations with Louisiana Indians in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Ferguson-Bohnee, a member of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian tribe, serves as the Native Vote Election Protection Coordinator for the State of Arizona.

Quannah (Gee) Dallas '04 interviewed in NPR story on SRPMIC

ILP Alum Quannah (Gee) Dallas '04 was recently interviewed on NPR segment featuring the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The article can be found at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114034929

Staff Attorney Position - NM Legal Aid - Zuni Pueblo

Staff Attorney - Gallup Office
New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) has an opening for a Staff Attorney in its Gallup Office. One (1) or more years of legal experience required. NMLA represents low-income individuals and families in a wide variety of poverty law areas including family law, housing, public benefits, consumer and Native American issues. Expectation is that attorney will be active in local bar and community activities. The position offers opportunity to work with Zuni people and practice law in theZuni Trbal Court. The candidate will handle general pverty law cases, utilizing a computerized case management system, participate in community education and outreach to those in need of housing and other benefits, and participate in recruitment of pro bono attorneys. The position also includes work with Zuni people on cases and matters involving Federal Indian and Tribal law issues, including representation of low income individuals in the Zuni Tribal Court. A percentage of the attorney's time will be devoted to NMLA's Native American Program issues. Requirements: Candidates must possess excellent writing and oral communication skills, ability to manage multiple tasks, skills sufficient to implement an array of advocacy strategies, ability to manage a caseload, and the ability to build collaborative relationships within the community. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus. Reliable transportation is mandatory. New Mexico bar license is preferred. Candidate will be required to become a member of the Zuni bar upon hire. NMLA offers an excellent benefits package, including generous leave, health insurance and opportunities for training. Competitive salary based on experience, DOE. NMLA is an EEO Employer. Send Resume, two references and a writing sample to: Gloria A. Molinar, NMLA, PO Box 25486, Albuquerque, NM 87125-5486 and or email to: gloriam@nmlegalaid.org; Deadline:10/30/09

Save the Date: 10/28/09

Navajo Government Forum with:
President Joe Shirley Jr.
Council Delegates: Leonard Tsosie, Jonathan Nez, and Kee Allen Begay

Come and discuss the issue and policies that matter to you.

• 88-24 Council Reduction Initiative
• Presidential Line Item veto
• Education
• Economic Development

Where: Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, ASU
Great Hall, Lecture Room

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
5:30-8:30

Free Event!
On-site voter registration!

Press Release
Navajo Government Forum at Arizona State University:
Debate on government reform voting initiatives to reduce the Council from 88 to 24 and provide a presidential line-item veto
Tempe, Arizona: For Immediate Release
A Navajo Government Forum that will focus on two initiatives – one that would reduce the Navajo Council from 88 members to 24 members and one that would add a line-item veto – will be hosted by Arizona State University at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Armstrong Hall at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
President Joe Shirley Jr. and three Council delegates – Kee Allen Begay (Many Farms/Round Rock Chapters), Jonathan Nez (Shonto Chapter) and Leonard Tsosie (Whitehorse Lake/Pueblo Pintado/Torreon Chapters) – will be questioned by a panel of experts, then will take questions on any Navajo Nation issue from the audience.
The initiatives will be on the Navajo Nation ballot in December. Voter registration closes Nov. 16, and voter registration will be available the evening of the forum.
The forum was conceived and organized by the ASU Navajo Students for Politics Committee, and is designed to mobilize ASU students and provide information for the the greater Phoenix Navajo community
The event is sponsored by the American Indian Policy Institute, American Indian Student Support Services, the Office of the Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs, the Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, American Indian Studies, and the Phoenix Indian Center.
For more information, contact Kate Rosier, Director of the Indian Legal Program, at (480) 965-6204.

JOBS:Chief Prosecutor, Hopi Tribe

Date: 10/22/2009 3:00 AM

Contact: Nancy F. Piqösa, Employment Coordinator
Employer: The Hopi Tribe
Address:P.O. Box 123
CityStateZip: Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Email: NPiqosa@hopi.nsn.us
Phone: 928-734-3219
Fax: 928-734-6611


JobTitle: Chief Prosecutor
Salary: D.O.E

Qualifications:
Required Education and experience: Juris Doctorate; and four (4) years para-legal or administrative work experience with increasing management responsibilities in a federal, state or tribal judicial or law enforcement field.

Description: Please contact tribe for more information

Tsosie article in new book

An article by Rebecca Tsosie, executive director of the Indian Legal Program, has recently been published in a new book, Gathering Native Scholars: UCLA's Forty Years of American Indian Culture and Research.The book is a collection of selected essays from four decades of the American Indian Culture and Research Journal at the University of California, Los Angeles. Tsosie's article, "Surviving the War by Singing the Blues: The Contemporary Ethos of American Indian Political Poetry," was written when she was a J.D. candidate at UCLA.

Tsosie teaches in the areas of Indian law, Property, Bioethics, and Critical Race Theory, as well as seminars in International Indigenous Rights and in the College's Tribal Policy, Law, and Government Master of Laws program. She has written and published widely on doctrinal and theoretical issues related to tribal sovereignty, environmental policy and cultural rights, and is the author of many prominent articles dealing with cultural resources and cultural pluralism. She also is the co-author with Robert Clinton and Carole Goldberg of a federal Indian law casebook. Her current research deals with Native rights to genetic resources.

JOB: California Indian Legal Services

Date: 10/16/2009 9:54:21 AM

Contact: Patricia De La Cruz-Lynas
Employer: California Indian Legal Services
Address1: 609 S. Escondido Blvd
CityStateZip: Escondido, CA 92025
Email: hiring@calindian.org
Website: www.calindian.org
Phone: 760-746-8941
Fax: 760-746-1815
AcceptingCalls: Yes

JobTitle: Staff Attorney - Eureka Office

Salary: Competitive salary D.O.E full family/partner medical and dental benefits, LTD, life insurance, generous leave policy and potential for annual performance bonus.

Hours: Full Time

Description: Staff attorney will work with Indian individuals, families, organizations and tribal governments in all areas of Federal Indian law, including but not limited to, advising on issues involving jurisdiction, tax, estate planning, trust assets, environmental law, cultural resource protection, Indian education, natural resource development, tribal governance, tribal justice systems, employment, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Responsibilities may range from the provision of brief counsel and services to low income Indian individuals to representing individuals and tribes in state and federal court, negotiating contracts, advising tribal clients and developing and implementing constitutions, codes, and policies for tribal clients.

Experience: Graduate,Current Bar Members

Submit: Resume,Cover Letter,Writing Sample

SubmitOther: * J.D. degree with exceptional academic achievement.
* Licensed to practice in California.
* Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Indian law with a minimum of three years experience practicing law.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* A willingness to assume a varied caseload.
* Strong work ethic and able to work nights and weekends when many tribal councils meet.
* Ability to travel overnight, valid driver?s license.
* A demonstrated commitment to providing high quality legal services for Indian people.
The following qualifications are desirable but not absolutely required:
* Experience working with Indian individuals or tribes.
* Prior legal services experience.

Sawers to present paper at Indian Law Conference

O’Connor Fellow Brian Sawers will present his paper, “Tribal Land Corporations: Using Incorporation to Combat Fractionation,” at the Federal Bar Association’s 11th Annual D.C. Indian Law Conference. It will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Sawers will participate in the panel, Beyond Land-Into-Trust: Creative Land Ownership Options for Tribes. According to the conference agenda, there are a number of creative ways for tribes to own land other than as federal trust land, such as federal restricted fee and conservation easements. Considering the practical problems with land-into-trust as well as the sovereignty concerns with the federal government “owning” the land, the panel will discuss what options are available.

Sawers’ area of research interest is property law, in particular where property regimes are unstable, developing or in transition. In his current research projects, he’s exploring both the material conditions determining property law and the effect of property regimes on resource utilization.

JOB: LaPena Law Corp

Job Title Attorney
Job Location Sacramento, CA

Job Description
The LaPena Law Corporation represents tribal clients on tribal, cultural, governmental, and economic development matters. We represent Indian tribes in tribal governmental operations; fee-to-trust and related real estate issues on and off reservation lands; selection and establishment of tribal entities; cultural resource protection; financing of tribal operations and development projects; gaming development and gaming regulation; establishing and counseling tribal gaming commissions; preparation of tribal codes and constitutions; housing development and finance; grant writing; Indian law litigation including environmental issues, contract disputes, Indian child welfare, and gaming; and other Indian law matters.

We seek an associate attorney to join our growing Sacramento office. Qualified candidates must possess a Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school, California State Bar license. An academic or practical background in Federal Indian law is preferred.
Candidates must also possess excellent analytical, research and communication skills, and the ability to work well independently and as a team in a fast paced environment.
We offer excellent salary and bonus compensation, and a benefit package.

Please email your cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and law school transcripts if graduated within the past five years to AmyAnn Taylor at ataylor@lapenalaw.com.

Organization Name LaPena Law Corporation
Contact Name AmyAnn Taylor
Business Address 2331 Capitol Avenue
City Sacramento State CA Zip 95816

Business Phone
Business FAX 916-442-9907
Business Email ataylor@lapenalaw.com
Web Address www.lapenalaw.com#http://www.lapenalaw.com#

Will they accept applicant inquiries? no

Salary Range
Application Deadline 11/15/2009

Eligible Applicants
1L no
2L no
3L no
Alumni yes

Applicant Information Requested

Resume
yes
Writing Sample
yes
Law School Transcript
no
Reference Letters
no
Other
yes

JOB: Nordaus Law Firm

Job Title Associate Attorney - Santa Fe
Job Location Santa Fe, NM

Job Description
The Nordhaus Law Firm, LLP is seeking a full time associate attorney with one to three years of relevant experience to work primarily on Indian water rights litigation in our Santa Fe, New Mexico office starting on or about October 15, 2009. Demonstrated interest in Indian law is required.

Experience in water law and/or Indian law is strongly preferred. The Firm is dedicated to the representation of Indian Tribes and Tribal entities on environmental issues, natural resource protection and development, jurisdictional issues, Tribal governance issues, economic development projects, and in administrative and regulatory processes as well as in trial and appellate litigation. Native Americans are encouraged to apply. Please apply immediately by
submitting: (1) a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, (2) a resume, (3) a legal writing sample, (4) a list of references, and (5) an official law school transcript to Hiring Partner Santa Fe Position, Nordhaus Law Firm, LLP, 1239 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501. You may submit your application by email to hiringpartner@nordhauslaw.com.

Organization Name Nordhaus Law Firm LLP
Contact Name Hiring Partner
Business Address 1239 Paseo de Peralta
City Santa Fe State NM Zip 87504

Business Phone (505) 982-3622
Business FAX (505) 982-1827
Business Email hiringpartner@nordhauslaw.com
Web Address #http://www.nordhauslaw.com/#

Will they accept applicant inquiries? no

Salary Range
Application Deadline 10/31/2009

Eligible Applicants
1L no
2L no
3L no
Alumni yes

Applicant Information Requested

Resume
yes
Writing Sample
yes
Law School Transcript
yes
Reference Letters
yes
Other
no


Please apply immediately by submitting: (1) a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, (2) a resume, (3) a legal writing sample, (4) a list of references, and (5) an official law school transcript.

Experience Required
1 - 3 Years

JOB: Ho-Chunk Nation Court System Staff Attorney

Date: 10/9/2009 12:30:07 PM

Contact: Hon. Todd R. Matha
Employer: Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court
Address1: PO Box 70
CityStateZip: Black River Falls, WI 54615
Email: todd.matha@ho-chunk.com
Website: http://www.ho-chunknation.com/?PageId=107
AcceptingCalls: No

JobTitle: Staff Attorney/Law Clerk
Salary: $50,000/yr.
Hours: 40
Description: Staff Attorney/Law Clerk
The Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary instituted the law clerk program shortly after its establishment in 1995. The Judiciary employs two law clerks for staggered terms of two years beginning on or around July 1. Several recent law school graduates have participated in the program since its inception, and many of those individuals currently practice and/or teach in the area of Indian law. The intention of the program is to provide a starting attorney with the necessary foundation to ably continue in this regard.

An interested applicant must submit the following documents to receive consideration for the law clerk position: 1) cover letter, 2) recent r?sum?, 3) transcript from an accredited law school, 4) writing sample, and 5) contact information for three professional/academic references. The Judiciary must receive the above application materials by mail on or before December 31, 2009. Applicants should direct materials to the following address:
Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court
Attn.: Hon. Todd R. Matha
P.O. Box 70
Black River Falls, WI 54615-0070
The Judiciary will inform applicants of the need to attend an on-site interview, and consequently applicants must be willing to travel to Wa Ehi Hoci for such purpose. The Judiciary will reimburse travel expenses to the extent possible. This reimbursement may include overnight accommodation.

Job Description

POSITION: STAFF ATTORNEY / LAW CLERK
DEPARTMENT: JUDICIARY/HO-CHUNK NATION COURT SYSTEM
SALARY: $50,000 / yr. or $24.03/ hr.
SUPERVISOR: CHIEF JUDGE OF THE TRIAL COURTS
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Legal research and drafting of memoranda for Trial Court Judges and Supreme Court Justices on questions of law.
2. Research legal issues identified by the Chief Judge, Associate Judges and Supreme Court Justice and prepare written memoranda, draft opinions and bench memos as directed.
3. Compile case law and make it available to users of the HCN Court System.
4. Field questions from court users and design court forms as needed.
5. Responsible for editing monthly Court bulletins, maintains opinion summaries and law library.
6. Maintain and advise on updates to the law library.
7. Coordinate HCN Law Day and maintain records necessary for CLE accreditation with State Bar of Wisconsin.
8. Coordinate HCN Bar Admission for the HCN Supreme Court and occasionally assist in drafting and issuing various Court Rules.
9. Must assist with Lay Advocate Training.
10. Responsible to work with minimal supervision and exercise their independent legal evaluation throughout the workday.
11. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Graduation from an accredited law school.
2. Membership in good standing with ANY state bar within 1 year of employment.
3. Strong research and writing skills.
4. Strong word processing and computer research skills including familiarity with INTERNET access.
5. Demonstrated interest in and familiarity with Tribal and Federal Indian Law.
6. Fluency in Ho-Chunk Language desired but not required.
7. Preference to members of the Ho-Chunk Nation, other Native Americans.
8. Valid driver?s license, dependable transportation and proper insurance, is required.

Experience: 3L,Graduate,Taking Next Bar,Bar Passage
Submit: Resume,Cover Letter,Transcript,Writing Sample

Jasmine Andreas ('07)

Jasmine Andreas ('07) is serving as Staff Attorney at the Bishop office for California Indian Legal Services.

Shana Barehand to present in DC

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

New Research Tool for Indian Law Judges, Lawyers & Students

Need to know where to find an Arizona tribal code or tribal court opinion? Want a quick legislative history of a major federal Indian law? Looking for an authoritative list of websites that will keep you up to date on Indian legal issues? Then the ASU Law Library’s Indian Law Portal is the tool for you!

By providing links to comprehensive, authoritative, free materials the portal is a community resource that can be used by anyone doing Indian legal research. ASU subscription materials are available for use in the library.

The portal links to electronic and print resources and brings together in one place many legal and interdisciplinary resources that the University purchases for its students and faculty, including databases, indexes, full text electronic journals, authoritative websites, and print resources. Unique resources created specifically for American Indian law researchers, include a chart on Arizona Tribal Law Sources, legislative histories for selected federal Indian laws, and an historical timeline that links to primary legal documents.

If you need assistance in using the portal, check out our guide on How to Use the Indian Law Portal (it is also available as a presentation) or Ask a Librarian for further assistance.

Williams Completes CLA/CP Exam

Jennifer Williams, legal assistant in the Indian Legal Clinic, has completed the two-day exam for Certified Legal Assistants or Certified Paralegals. Passage of the exam allows Williams to use the professional credential of CLA or CP. She is among 1,081 paralegals in the State of Arizona and 15,652 paralegals nationwide who have attained this goal.

"I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, and everyone in the Indian Legal Clinic for their encouragement and support while I studied and sat for the exam," said Williams, who has worked in the Indian Legal Clinic for one year.

Established in 1976, the CLA/CP examination program is a voluntary professional credentialing program developed by the National Association of Legal Assistants and administered by a board composed of paralegals, members of the American Bar Association and members of the field of education active in paralegal training.

The exam covers communications; legal research; ethics; human relations and interviewing techniques; legal terminology; judgment and analytical ability and substantive law. Continuing legal education is required to maintain the status.

The National Association of Legal Assistants, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., is a national, nonprofit association that represents more than 18,000 paralegals through individual members and 83 affiliated state and local associations.

Ferguson-Bohnee selected for Equal Justice Works award

Patty Ferguson-BohneePatty Ferguson-Bohnee has been selected for the 2009 Equal Justice Works Outstanding Law School Faculty Award, which is given to young faculty of less than five years experience who are doing great work in public service.The award will be presented at the 2009 Equal Justice Works Awards Luncheon on Oct. 24 in Washington, D.C., at which Harold Koh, Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State and former Yale Law School Dean, will be the keynote speaker.

“This is a great honor and a tribute to Patty’s great work at the Clinic, as well as the dedication of the students who have participated in the Clinic over the past few years,” said Dean Paul Schiff Berman.

Rebecca Tsosie, Executive Director of the Indian Legal Program, praised Ferguson-Bohnee’s work.“Patty’s leadership of our Indian Legal Clinic has been absolutely exceptional,” Tsosie said.

Ferguson-Bohnee has substantial experience in Indian law, election law and policy matters, voting rights, and status clarification of tribes. She has testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Louisiana State Legislature regarding tribal recognition, and has successfully assisted four Louisiana tribes in obtaining state recognition.

Ferguson-Bohnee has represented tribal clients in administrative, state, federal, and tribal courts, as well as before state and local governing bodies and proposed revisions to the Real Estate Disclosure Reports to include tribal provisions. She has assisted in complex voting rights litigation on behalf of tribes, and she has drafted state legislative and congressional testimony on behalf of tribes with respect to voting rights’ issues.She is a member of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian tribe.

Tsosie on cover of 'ASU Magazine'

Rebecca TsosieProfessor Rebecca Tsosie, Executive Director of the College's Indian Legal Program, and Andrew Askland, Director of the College's Center for the Study of Law, Science, & Technology were featured prominently in the September 2009 edition of ASU Magazine.
Tsosie is pictured on the publication's cover, and is featured in the main piece, "Sustaining Change: ASU researchers discover keys to promoting habits for a healthier planet" by Lee Gimpel. In a sidebar, "Framing Change," Tsosie points out that many of the world's surviving indigenous cultures are the most susceptible to climate change because their lands often are likely to experience drought or flooding. This puts them at risk for extinction, she explains, and therefore, they have, or should have, a disproportionate interest in sustainability.
In the same sidebar, Askland talks about his research into the legal framework around sustainability, and for example, how the preferential treatment that certain power sources have enjoyed might change with regulation that tilts the balance toward wind and solar sources.

Andrew AsklandTo read the full article, click here.Tsosie teaches in the areas of Indian law, Property, Bioethics, and Critical Race Theory, as well as seminars in International Indigenous Rights and in the College's Tribal Policy, Law, and Government Master of Laws program. She has written and published widely on doctrinal and theoretical issues related to tribal sovereignty, environmental policy and cultural rights, and is the author of many prominent articles dealing with cultural resources and cultural pluralism. Tsosie is the co-author with Robert Clinton and Carole Goldberg of a federal Indian law casebook, and her current research deals with Native rights to genetic resources. She annually speaks at several national conferences on tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and tribal rights to environmental and cultural resources.
Askland teaches courses at the College of Law in Privacy and Economics and the Law. He also has research interests in Environmental Ethics and Bioethics and in Moral and Political Theory. Askland is a member of the American Philosophical Association and served on the program committee of its Pacific Division.

Artman to be keynote at Development Conference

Carl Artman Carl Artman, Director of the Economic Development in Indian Country Program, will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Business Development in Indian Country Conference at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, Wisc., on Sept. 21-24.

The conference is organized by the Potawatomi Business Development Corp., and will bring together tribal and business leaders from across the region and nation to share experiences and ideas for building sustainable tribal economies.

Artman, who is a shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, also served as the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He will identify various stimulus opportunities for Indian Country. Eugenio Aleman, vice president and senior economist for Wells Fargo, will also provide a keynote on the banking and investing trends in 2009-2010.
To register for the conference, go to http://www.bussproductions.com/ or call (651) 917-2301.

Artman joins College of Law

When Carl J. Artman was in second grade, he watched the Watergate hearings on television.
"I saw the people whispering in the ears of the senators, and I knew I wanted to be one of those people," he said.

Artman, who realized that dream of leadership in Washington, D.C., by becoming Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department's Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs, recently joined the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law as a professor and Director of the Economic Development in Indian Country Program.

Artman, an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, spent much of his childhood visiting relatives on the reservation. "I always knew I was an Indian growing up," he said.

A self-defined "policy wonk," Artman considered journalism, reading All the President's Men, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's description of reporting the Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon's resignation.

But he also read the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke and the letters of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. And he learned that the Oneida Nation was one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, which is said to have influenced the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. And that the tribe supplied corn that kept President Washington's troops from starving at Valley Forge in 1777.

"I was honored to know that my tribe helped create what we have today," he said.
And he chose the path of government service.

Artman has worked in policy-making on Capitol Hill, lobbied for his tribe, worked on business deals for the Oneida Nation, including a telecom business, developed a high-tech business and eventually became Chief Counsel for his tribe. After he left the Department of the Interior, Artman built an Indian law practice at Godfrey & Kahn in Milwaukee, Wisc.

"When I was in law school, there was not a lot of focus on Indian law," Artman said. "I always thought I would end up in Indian Country, preferably working for my tribe, but I never felt compelled to follow a strict Indian law process."

Instead, at Washington University School of Law, Artman focused on business and policy, and their intersection with law. He also earned an M.B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an LL.M. in Natural Resources and Environmental Law at the University of Denver.

"Everything I've done has crossed government, business, management and policy," he said.
Artman said he began thinking about ASU after Dean Paul Schiff Berman approached him at a conference the Indian Legal Program organized in 2008 about Indian gaming, at which Artman was a presenter.

"I did a lot of research, looking at ASU's philosophy under President Crow, his vision of the New American University and its entrepreneurship," Artman said. "I knew that if I had the opportunity to work with students here, they would take what we worked on and translate it into something real."

Artman said he also was attracted by the Indian Legal Program team, which he said he is proud to join.

"The impact they have leads to endless possibilities," he said. "It's readymade to help tribal leaders."

In addition to teaching, one of Artman's first projects is planning a national conference on tribal energy economies, which will be held March 25-26.

"It's about the whole world of energy, coal, natural gas, oil, the whole gamut, spanning all the way to alternative and renewable energies and beyond," Artman said. "Many tribes are just tapping into their natural resources, and we'll look at a strategic plan to promote investment and turn them into truly sustainable economies.

"We'll look at the issues from 10,000 feet, but also in detail. I want tribal leaders - government, business, legal, chiefs of staff - to walk out saying, 'That was inspirational. I learned what other people are thinking on the subject. There were partners and stakeholders who spoke with us.' I want it to be a true exchange of ideas."

Artman's wife, Wendy, is a senior public relations manager with GroundFloor Media, based in Denver, and they have two young sons.

JOB: Staff Attorney for Crow Tribe of Indians

JOB ADVERTISEMENT
CROW TRIBE OF INDIANS
CROW AGENCY, MT

Staff Attorney

The Executive Branch of the Crow Tribe of Indians is accepting applications for a full-time in-house attorney position at the Office of Legal Counsel in Crow Agency, MT. Position open until filled.

Minimum Qualifications
· A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school;
· Admitted to practice in the State of Montana and a member in good standing of the Montana Bar;
· Willing to sit for the next available administration of the Crow Tribal Bar Exam;
· Prior legal experience (3+ years) preferred;
· General understanding of and inherent respect for Crow Tribal and Native American history and culture;
· Working knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure;
· Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Indian Law;
· Willing to sit for and ability to pass a criminal background check;
· No felony convictions and no serious misdemeanor convictions within the past five years;
· Must pass a pre-employment drug test;
· Commitment to the concepts of tribal sovereignty and Indian self determination

Salary: DOE

Description: The successful applicant will be responsible for diverse matters on behalf of the Executive Branch of the Crow Tribe, and will provide legal counsel to the Tribal governmental departments. S/he will be expected to divide her/his time as appropriate to cover the caseload in each respective assigned area. S/he will represent the Tribe in various cases or matters in which the Tribe has an interest, as assigned or delegated by Joint Lead Counsel for the Executive Branch.

Duties may include practice in tribal, federal, and state courts and arbitration proceedings; participating in teleconference and telephonic hearings as required; performing legal research in appropriate areas of law; review and analysis of statutes and caselaw pertaining to tribal, federal, and state law and any other relevant tribal codes; development of Tribal codes and legislation, including presentations to the Tribal Legislature and collaborative work with its Committees; analysis of pending Federal and State legislation for effects on the Crow Tribe; review of contracts and grant applications; land and leasing transactions; interface with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other Federal and State agencies; training and supervision of others as required; and other related duties as assigned or required.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Crow Tribal members, and to members of federally recognized Indian tribes.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest, resume, and three references to: Office of Legal Counsel, Crow Tribe, Attention: Heather Whiteman Runs Him-Oleyte, P.O. Box 340, Crow Agency, MT 59022. Questions may be directed via email to: heatherw@crownations.net.

Professor Rebecca Tsosie Welcomed as Inaugural Oregon Tribes Professor of Law


Oregon Law is pleased to welcome Professor Rebecca Tsosie as the first ever Oregon Tribes Law Professor and a Wayne Morse Center distinguished speaker for the Climate Ethics, Climate Equity theme.
Professor Tsosie, who is of Yaqui descent, has worked extensively with tribal governments and organizations and serves as a Supreme Court Justice for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. She has served as Executive Director of the top ranked Indian Law program at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law since 1996. She teaches Indian law, property, bioethics, and critical race theory, as well as seminars on international indigenous rights. Professor Tsosie also teaches in the school's LL.M. program in Tribal Policy, Law, and Government. Additionally, she is a Faculty Fellow of the Center for the Study of Law, Science, and Technology and an Affiliate Professor in ASU's American Indian Studies Program. In 2005, Professor Tsosie was appointed a Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar.
Professor Tsosie has written and published widely on doctrinal and theoretical issues related to tribal sovereignty, environmental policy, and cultural rights. She is the author of many prominent articles dealing with cultural resources and cultural pluralism. Professor Tsosie is the co-author of a federal Indian law casebook titled American Indian Law: Native Nations and the Federal System. In addition, Professor Tsosie annually speaks at several national conferences on tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and tribal rights to environmental and cultural resources.
Professor Tsosie is a recipient of numerous distinguished awards and honors, including a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, the Native Nations Distinguished Alumnus Award, the "Judge Learned Hand Award" for Public Service, and the American Bar Association's "2002 Spirit of Excellence Award."
During Professor Tsosie's visit, she will meet and consult with the faculty, students, and staff on Indian legal education, meet with Oregon Law's Native American Law Student Association, meet with Oregon tribes to discuss the issues of climate change, and present the annual Rennard Strickland lecture, cosponsored by the Wayne Morse Center and Oregon Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law ("ENR") Program on October 15.
The Oregon Tribes Professorship is established to boost scholarship, public service, and academic offerings in Indian Law. It is aimed to provide legal education about and to the Native Americans at Oregon Law, and serve as a bridge between the law school and the Native American community. This chair was made possible by a grant from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and contributions from numerous registered tribes in Oregon.

Dorinda Strmiska has accepted a new position with the National Indian Gaming Commission. She will be starting there on October 13, 2009.
The ILP congratulates you!

ILC files amicus brief in Fifth Circuit Religious Freedom Case

Indian Legal Clinic Files Amicus Brief in Fifth Circuit Religious Freedom Case

The ASU Indian Legal Clinic and Quarles & Brady filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas in A.A. v. Needville School District. Indian Legal Clinic Student-Attorney Daniel Lewis, Quarles & Brady attorney Katea Ravega, and Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee prepared the brief.

The school district appealed a permanent injunction issued by the Southern District of Texas prohibiting the district from enforcing a regulation that would prevent a Native American kindergartner from wearing his hair in braids at school in violation of his constitutional rights of freedom of expression and religion. The school district's policy prevents boys from wearing their hair long, and specifically provides that a boy's hair "shall not cover any part of the ear or touch the top of the standard collar in the back." Because of the policy, the student was placed in in-school suspension. The student believes "that his long hair is not only an expression of his ancestry and heritage, but also a sacred symbol of his life and experience in this world."

The amicus brief addressed the Lipan Apache tradition of wearing hair long for both expression of identity and religious purposes and requested the Fifth Circuit to affirm the lower court's decision.

JOB: Oklahoma Indian Law Job

Sole practitioner seeks associate to assist in General Counsel representation of Oklahoma Indian tribe. Must have knowledge of federal Indian law and admission to Oklahoma State Bar. Office is located within commuting distance to Oklahoma City. Salary DOE. If interested, please email resume and supporting materials to indianlawjob@gmail.com.

Professor Ferguson Bohnee chosen NABA-AZ Member of the Year

Patty Furguson-Bohnee Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Legal Clinic, has been chosen 2009 NABA-AZ Member of the Year Award by the Native American Bar Association of Arizona.

Ferguson-Bohnee was chosen for her "immeasurable" work in both the legal community and the Native American community, including her service as co-founder and vice president of NABA-AZ, her work for the Native community on the Election Protection project, and her recent appointment as vice president of the National NABA.

Ferguson-Bohnee will be recognized at the inaugural Seven Generations Awards Dinner from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Whirlwind Golf Club on the Gila River Indian Community, 5692 W. North Loop Road in Chandler.

Ferguson-Bohnee has substantial experience in Indian law, election law and policy matters, voting rights, and status clarification of tribes. She has testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Louisiana State Legislature regarding tribal recognition, and has successfully assisted four Louisiana tribes in obtaining state recognition.

She has represented tribal clients in administrative, state, federal, and tribal courts, as well as before state and local governing bodies and proposed revisions to the Real Estate Disclosure Reports to include tribal provisions. She has assisted in complex voting rights litigation on behalf of tribes, and she has drafted state legislative and congressional testimony on behalf of tribes with respect to voting rights' issues.

Nikki Borchardt starts new position

Nikki Borchardt ('09) started her job at Luebben, Johnson, and Barnhouse in Albuquerque, NM as an associate. Good luck with your new position Nikki!

Breann Swann receives research fellowship!

2009 LL.M. grad receives research fellowship

Breann Yoshiko Swann, a 2009 graduate of the College of Law’s LL.M. in Tribal Policy, Law and Government program, recently was named the recipient of an Inaugural Research Fellowship according to a recent University of Hawai’i, Mānoa press release.

The fellowship was established through the Kamehameha Schools, a charitable educational trust, whose mission is to provide educational opportunities to improve the capacity and well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry. It will enable Swann to conduct up to three years of research, scholarship, teaching and/or other research-related projects at the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Swann earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California – Gould School of Law.

To read the University of Hawai’i press release click here.

To read other College of Law stories about Swann please visit http://www.law.asu.edu/?id=902 and http://www.law.asu.edu/?id=1368.…..

ALUMNI: Gloria Kindig ('89)

Gloria Kindig ('89) is the new Chief Judge for Hopi Tribal Court.

JOB: Udall

Morris K. Udall Foundation
Program Manager, Native American Congressional Internship Program and Native American Recruiting


Full-time position based in Tucson, Arizona.

Brief description:
The Udall Foundation’s Native American Congressional Internship Program is a ten-week, summer internship for Native Americans and Alaska Natives in Washington, D.C. Interns work in Senate and House offices and federal agencies to gain an insider’s view of the federal government. The program provides interns with opportunities to research legislative issues important to tribal communities; exposure to resources available in Washington, DC, for legislative research and tribal policy development; and opportunities to network with key public officials, agency officials, and national tribal advocacy organizations.

The Program Manager for the Native American Congressional Internship Program manages strategy, implementation, and communication in four principal areas: applicant recruitment and intern selection; Congressional and federal agency office placements; intern housing and enrichment activities; and alumni development. The Program Manager reports directly to the Senior Program Manager for Education Programs, is an integral member of the Education team, and works with the Program Manager for the Udall Scholarship Program on strategy and implementation of Native American recruitment for the undergraduate scholarship. The Program Manager spends approximately 3 months each year (May 15-August 15) in Washington, D.C. to provide general supervision and professional mentoring of 12 Native American Interns.

Principal responsibilities:
§ Work with Education staff to develop and implement a national recruiting plan and targeted outreach for the Internship Program and Native American undergraduate scholarship.
§ Work with Education staff to enhance promotional materials and the internship website.
§ Work with Education staff to create guidelines for the selection of interns.
§ Coordinate application and selection processes.
§ Manage applicant and intern notifications.
§ Maintain institutional relationships with Congressional offices and federal agencies in Washington, D.C.
§ Arrange placement for 12 Native American Interns in appropriate congressional/agency offices.
§ Strategize and implement intern orientation, public receptions and enrichment activities.
§ Arrange housing for interns and manage residence and student life issues.
§ Maintain and develop alumni network and institutional relationships with Native American communities and organizations.
§ Conduct program evaluations to ensure continued improvements.

Necessary Qualifications:
§ BA/BS degree
§ Experience mentoring, advising, and/or recruiting Native American college or graduate students
§ Knowledge of policies, issues and problems affecting Indian country
§ Ability to spend May 15-August 15 living in Washington, DC (housing and per diem provided)
§ Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
§ Familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel applications

Preferred Qualifications:
§ Master’s or professional degree in Native American studies or similar field
§ Experience interning or working for the federal government
§ Previous experience as a residential advisor or in college admissions
§ Familiar with Microsoft Publisher and Picture Manager

Salary range: $35,000-$45,000 with federal benefits. Reasonable relocation costs paid. Information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.udall.gov. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Morris K. Udall Foundation, attn: Jane Curlin; 130 S. Scott Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701-1922; or email a cover letter and resume (Word or PDF) to Jane Curlin at curlin@udall.gov. No faxes or phone calls.

Deadline to submit materials: September 18, 2009

JOB: Colorado River Indian Tribal Court

Department: Colorado River Indian Tribal Court
Position: Judicial Clerk of the Court
Salary: $28,000 - $32,000 DOE
Chief,

SUMMARY
Performs a variety of complex court clerk duties and clerical tasks involved in processing, maintaining and securing records of all court proceedings in civil, criminal, Juvenile and traffic cases. Provides information and assistance to law enforcement officers, attorneys, plaintiffs, defendants and court patrons. Provides general clerical assistance to the Judges and administrative staff. Supervises, train, evaluates, delegates and monitor assignments to Court Clerks. The Judicial Clerk of the Court will be required to perform work in the following areas of the court: civil, criminal, Juvenile, traffic, Fish & Game or other areas as assigned and in accordance to the Laws, Codes and Rules of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CIVIL
Opens, processes and closes general civil, small claims and summary proceedings cases. Records and processes complaints and pleadings, distributes and files civil documents, enters case information into the computer, coordinates service of process, prepares legal documents, and enters defaults, orders and judgments.
Receives, receipts and records fees and other monies. Notifies appropriate staff to issue refunds or distribute monies in accordance with court orders and procedures.
Operates a computer terminal to enter, update, correct and access case information; and to produce computer-generated forms, reports and court calendars.
Documents all case activity and other pertinent case information on court documents and in the computer; maintains case histories on each case.
Provides information to attorneys, law enforcement officers, plaintiffs and defendants, court patrons and agencies about court policies and procedures, case status, scheduling of court proceedings and civil proceedings in general.
Schedules court proceedings and issues proper notices to the appropriate parties.
Serves as the Clerk for the Court of Appeals

CRIMINAL
Receives criminal and Juvenile complaints and related documents, opens case files, enters case information into the computer, and files case documents.
Receives, receipts and records bonds, fines, costs, and other payments.
Operates a computer terminal to enter, update correct and access case information; and produce computer-generated forms, reports and case calendars.
Ensures that case files are ready and available for scheduled court proceedings. Checks in defendants, attorneys and others.
Documents case activity and other pertinent case information on court documents and in the computer, maintains case history on each case.
Distributes and recalls search and arrest warrant as authorized.
Provides information to attorneys, law enforcement officers, plaintiffs, defendants, court patrons and agencies about court policies and procedures, case status, scheduling of court proceedings and criminal proceeding in general.
Prepares and distributes jail commitments and other legal documents.

TRAFFIC/FISH & GAME
Receives, records and codes citations from law enforcement agencies, prepares case file and enters case information into the computer. Closes cases following dispositions.
Receives, receipts and records fines, cost, bonds and other monies. Notifies appropriate staff to refund, forfeit and/or apply bond money to pay fines, costs and other assessments.
Operates a computer to enter, update, correct and access case information; and to produce computer generated forms and reports.
Provides information to attorneys, law enforcement officers, defendants, court patrons and agencies about court policies and procedures, case status, scheduling of court proceedings and criminal proceeding in general.
Schedules civil infraction informal hearings and issues notification to the appropriate parties.
Monitors case files and initiates enforcement action on overdue citations. Prepares and issues default judgments, bond forfeiture notices.


REQUIRED SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE

· Extensive knowledge and familiarity with the operation and applications of computers, and various data programs.
Minimum of 5 years experience and knowledge of personnel supervisory skills, ability to lead, resolve problems, train, evaluate and coordinate the activities of the Court Clerks in accordance to program rules and regulations.
Ability to plan, organize and calendar administrative and court cases, activities, staffing, etc.
Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in written form.
Possesses an understanding of legal terminology and thorough knowledge of courtroom procedures
Extensive knowledge of the Rules of the Court, collection of fees, and Child Support guidelines.
Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration or a closely related field and five (5) years of administrative and court related experience or any combination of education training and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.


For Employment Application and detailed job description visit: http://critonline.com
Applications and resumes must be forwarded to:
Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT)
Human Resource Department
26600 Mohave Road,
Parker, Arizona, 85344.

Tsosie will Speak at the University of Oregon School of Law

Tsosie to speak on 'Indigenous Peoples and Global Climate Change'

Rebecca TsosieRebecca Tsosie, Executive Director of the Indian Legal Program, will speak next month on "Indigenous Peoples and Global Climate Change: Intercultural Models of Climate Equity" at the Knight Law Center at the University of Oregon School of Law.

The presentation, scheduled for Sept. 11, will frame the issue of "climate equity" within a global context, but focus on the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples have been identified as "vulnerable groups" within the discussions on climate change, and it is projected that many indigenous groups will experience relocation and destruction of their traditional lifeways. This grim reality poses a unique set of challenges for all governments, and also features an opportunity to examine the legal and ethical duties that might arise from these challenges.

Tsosie teaches in the areas of Indian law, Property, Bioethics, and Critical Race Theory, as well as seminars in International Indigenous Rights and in the College's Tribal Policy, Law, and Government Master of Laws program. She has written and published widely on doctrinal and theoretical issues related to tribal sovereignty, environmental policy and cultural rights, and is the author of many prominent articles dealing with cultural resources and cultural pluralism. Tsosie also is the co-author with Robert Clinton and Carole Goldberg of a federal Indian law casebook. Her current research deals with Native rights to genetic resources.

Alumni: Diane Humetewa ('93)

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.

JOB: Chief Judge, Associate Judge and Protem Judge at Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

Job Announcements. Chief Judge, Associate Judge, Protem Judges
Contact:Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Attn: Recruiter480 789 7119 or email: recruiter@ftmcdowell.org

JOB: Chief Prosecutor at Gila River Indian Community

Job Announcement: Chief Prosecutor
Law Office - Criminal Division, 351 S Bluebird Rd. Sacaton
$86,693 per annum
Job Number: 2009-237-A
For more information see http://www.gilariver.org/ or call Gila River Indian Community, Human Resources Dept.

Jordan Hale ('09) joins Dilkon Judicial District of Navajo Nation

Jordan Hale ('09) is a staff attorney for the Dilkon Judicial District of Navajo Nation.

Christina Entrekin, Director of Programs for Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services

Christina Entrekin ('98) is the Director of Programs for Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services in Vancouver, BC. VACFSS has been a child and family serving agency since its incorporation in 1992. The group is continuing to transform services to make them more grounded within our history and to reflect the diverse cultures of the clients we serve. With the transfer of child protection services from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in 2008, VACFSS continues to focus on better outcomes for the children and families it serves. VACFSS honours the traditions and wisdom inherent in the Aboriginal community. The goal is to work to create a stronger community through partnerships with other service providers and by connecting with community resources.

Michael Lane Specialist Advisor-Ngati Rangiwewehi Charitable Trust

Michael Lane, ('94) graduate in May, 2009 (with first class honors) with a Masters of Indigenous Studies from Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi ( a fully accredited Maori University). He is cuurently employed as a Specialist Advisor-Ngati Rangiwewehi Charitable Trust
Job. He is currently assisting with the capacity development for tribal selfgovernment; assisting in developing linkages with other Indigenous Peoples; establishing their Quality Management System; advising and researching on a possible Aboriginal Title Claim addendum to their Treaty of Waitangi Claim.