Linda Benally receives State Bar Award

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

Borchardt ('09) Quoted in "The Spectrum'

Nikki Borchardt, Class of 2009 graduate of the College of Law and member of the Paiute Tribe of Utah, recently emceed her tribe's Queen and Princess Pageant at the Restoration Gathering, according to the story, "Paiute Tribe celebrates Restoration Gathering, commemoration" on thespectrum.com, a Web site managed by The Spectrum newspaper. The Restoration Gathering was a weekend-long celebration commemorating the restoration of the Paiutes as a recognized American Indian tribe. The pageant showcases modern as well as traditional American Indian talents.

Borchardt, the first of her tribe to receive a law degree, is quoted as explaining, "In the 1950's we lost the right to our land, health services and fiduciary protection, among other things. In 1980, the Federal Restoration Act restored the relationship with the government and we were able to put our land back into trusts and be recognized as a tribe again."

Borchardt participated in Moot Court competitions at the law school, was awarded the Honorable William C. Canby Jr. Scholarship, earned both a Juris Doctorate and a Certificate in Indian Law, and graduated with pro bono distinction.

JOB: White Mountain Apache Tribal Prosecutor

JOB DESCRIPTION
TRIBAL PROSECUTOR

Under general supervision of the Tribal Attorney, the Prosecutor represents the White Mountain Apache Tribe before the White Mountain Apache Tribal Court on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
Administers the Prosecution Unit for the White Mountain Apache Tribe, including, but not limited to: prosecution of adults and juveniles, statistical record keeping, budget strategy, supervise all prosecution staff including domestic violence staff, serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute non-Indian misdemeanor violations in federal court. Review complaints prior to filing. Confer with and give advice to Tribal Court on development of general procedural matters. Train and consult with law enforcement agencies including Whiteriver Police Department, BIA, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Interview witnesses, victims, experts, and others to prepare for trial and/or resolution of cases. Conduct legal research. Prepare and argue motions before Tribal and Juvenile Court. Initiate investigation of criminal prosecutors from other tribes government agencies, legal services, social services, guidance pretrial hearings with proper defendants and defense attorneys. Negotiate settlements with proper defendants and defense counsel, conduct trials - including examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and argue Tribe’s position for sentencing. Attend staff meetings, law enforcement meetings, judicial meetings, training, law seminars and workshops. Prosecute Class 3 and 4 Game and Fish violations and juvenile dependency actions. Review and recommend modifications to criminal code, juvenile code and criminal procedure. Review law enforcement policies and procedures. Provide training materials to law enforcement agencies. Develop and implement ongoing programs to meet the needs of the criminal justice system. Write grants and perform other duties as directed. This position reports to the Tribal Attorney.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Must have a Law Degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Must be a member in good standing of a state bar association and eligible for Arizona State Bar membership within twelve months of hire.
Criminal litigation experience required and experience in Indian law required.
Three years litigation experience.
Two years supervisory experience in the field of interest of a related field.

JOB: General Counsel at Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

Contact: Maria Silversmith, Recruiting Specialist
Employer: Salt River Human Resources
Address1: 10005 E. Osborn Road
CityStateZip: Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Email: recruitmenttransactions@srpmic-nsn.gov
Website: www.srpmicjobs.com
Phone: 480.362.7925
Fax: 480.362.5588
AcceptingCalls: Yes

JobTitle: General Counsel to SRPMIC
Salary: $142,707 to $214,064
Hours: 8 am to 5 pm

Description: Under the administrative direction of the Community Council, serves as the chief legal advisor, representative and counselor to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC or Community) government, including all departments, divisions, enterprises and other entities. Ensures that applicable laws are followed so that tribal sovereignty is protected and enhanced. Provides assistance to avoid or prevent legal disputes and litigation and protects the Community?s legal interests. Supervises, administers, and oversees all legal services for the Community. This is treated as an FLSA exempt job class.

? Education & Experience: Bachelor?s degree and graduate of an accredited law school, with a minimum of seven (7) years of experience practicing law which included some experience in at least three or more of the following areas: federal Indian law, employment law, commercial transactions, gaming law, leasing, and planning and zoning, A minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience and some experience/familiarity with executive, legislative, and judicial functions of tribal government is also required.

? Insurability: Must possess a valid Arizona operator?s license and be insurable under tribal insurer requirements (e.g., be age 21 or over, no DUI convictions within the last 3 years; no reckless driving, no speeding tickets in excess of 15 mph over the posted speed limit, no more than one at-fault accident, and no more than three speeding tickets within the last 3 years.)

Special Requirements:
? Must be a member in good standing of a State Bar, preferably the Arizona State Bar, and must be eligible to be or admitted to practice in Federal District Court. Must have no outstanding contempt citation from any court. If not licensed and certified by the Arizona State Bar as of the date of hiring, employment shall be conditioned on successful completion and passing of the Arizona State Bar exam within one (1) year of the date of hire.
? Must attend a minimum of 15 hours annual continuing legal education as related to job and approved by supervisor.
? This position may be expected to work evenings and weekends as needed and is not subject to a standard work schedule.
? Must devote full time to the duties of the office and shall not directly or indirectly engage in the private practice of law or in an occupation conflicting with such duties.

Experience: Current Bar Members
Submit: Resume
SubmitOther: Completed SRPMIC application which can be downloaded on our website: www.srpmicjobs.com
SendBy: Mail,Fax
Deadline: August 28, 2009

Humetewa announces resignation

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

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

Furnish & Attakai present at Navajo Nation Judicial Conference

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

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

4th Annual ASU NALSA Golf Tournament

Saturday, November 14, 2009
Whirlwind Golf Course
Chandler, AZ

8:15 A.M. Shotgun Start

The Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law cordially invites you to participate in its 4th Annual Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, November 14th, 2009. The scramble format tourney will take place at the Whirlwind Golf Course in Chandler, AZ. (Gila River Indian Community)

For further information or to request an entry form, please contact:
Derrick Beetso (602) 717-1828 or dbeetso@asu.edu

Deadline for entry is Saturday, October 31, 2009. Players may also enter late up to the day of the event for $155 per player (subject to space availability).

Tournament Sponsorships Available

Job: Native Dispute Resolution Network

(I could not attach the job. Please visit their website for more information.)

Greetings Native Network,

We are pleased to share the attached job announcement which will add a full-time program manager (in addition to Sarah) in the Institute’s Native American and Alaska Native Program. As you’ll see, significant responsibility for this position is teaming with Sarah, and Joan initially, to continue the implementation and management of the Native Dispute Resolution Network and Skills Exchange workshops.

This position, as with all U.S. Institute staff positions, is contingent on the U.S. Institute receiving its full Congressional appropriation for FY2010.

Please take a look, as well as circulate to those you think are a good match with position description/requirements and with the US Institute. The closing date for the position is August 15, 2009.

Thanks much.
Sarah and Joan

Sarah PalmerSenior Program Manager U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution130 South Scott Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701Direct Telephone: 520.901.8556 Fax: 520.901.8557 Cell: 520.940.3857Email: palmer@ecr.gov Website: www.ecr.gov

Joan Calcagno Senior Program ManagerU.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution130 South Scott Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85701Telephone: 520.901.8552 Fax: 520. 901.8553 Email: roster@ecr.gov, nativenetwork@ecr.gov, or calcagno@ecr.gov Website: www.ecr.gov

ILP co-presents environmental workshop

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

Ann Marie Downes, director of the College's Indian Legal Graduate Programs, and Patricia Mariella, the institute's director, conducted the workshop for the Community's Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department.

Among discussion topics were well-known cases in Indian law, including Dura v. Reina, which originated on the Salt River-Maricopa Indian Community. Other discussion centered on the development of federal Indian policy, civil and regulatory jurisdictional issues.

The workshop is the first of several on environmental compliance and enforcement that the institute will be conducting with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

WEWIN Conference

Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations Fifth Annual Conference

"Sovereignty: A Generation for Change"

July 31 - August 2, 2009
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & CasinoScottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ

This training and development conference is for elected Tribal officials, Indian community leaders, and State and Federal program managers committed to enhancements and change.

CONFERENCE TOPICS INCLUDE:

Women Entrepreneurs in Indian Country Share Sucessful StrategiesHow to Work Effectively with State, Local, Federal, and Tribal Government

Preparing for Leadership: Where Do I Start and What are My Responsibilities

Finance 101: Understanding Tribal Budgets, Indirect Costs, Grants, Discretionary Funds and Fiscal Responsibilities


http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=719c9138-42b6-46ef-9a0d-060d46b90595

NABA-AZ Annual Luncheon

PLEASE ATTEND NABA-AZ'S

ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON JUNE 26, 2009!

The topic of this year's annual luncheon is:

NATIVE WOMENMAKING A DIFFERENCE

This year, we are honored to present a panel presentation of three distinguished Native American women leaders. The panelists will share their experiences, challenges, and motivation behind their paths to leadership.

Moderator:

Rebecca Tsosie Professor of Law, Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar Executive Director, Indian Legal Program and Affiliate Professor, American Indian Studies Program

Panelists:

Diane Enos, President of Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
Diane Humetewa, United States Attorney District of Arizona
Mary Thomas, Former Governor of the Gila River Indian Community

Date: June 26, 2009
Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Arizona Biltmore, Grand Room located in Conference Center (State Bar Convention)

Cost: $15 NABA-AZ Member

$20 non-NABA-AZ Member

**LUNCH PROVIDED**

Please RSVP to jbraybro@fclaw.com by June 12th if you are planning on attending.

ALUMNI: Steve Bodmer ('06)

Steve M. Bodmer ('06) is now the Tribal Attorney for the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. Congratulations Steve!

JOB: General Counsel - Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, is looking for an experienced Indian lawyer to fill its general counsel position. The duties include managing all of the Tribe's legal affairs, which are considerable, managing an in-house staff of 2 attorneys (it has been as high as 6 in the past), managing the work assigned to outside counsel, and advising the Tribe's Board of Directors (Tribal Council) on all legal issues that arise.

Anyone interested should contact Bruce Greene - see contact info below.

1500 Tamarack Avenue
Boulder, Colorado 80304
303-284-8654 Office
303-284-8578 Facsimile
303-249-5848 Mobile
bgreene@greenelawyer.com

JOB: Hoopa Valley Tribe - Tribal Attorney

TRIBAL ATTORNEY, Contractual, $56,000, DOE. The Hoopa Valley Tribe, a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Hoopa, California, seeks an Attorney to fill the position of Tribal Attorney. The successful candidate will serve in the Office of Tribal Attorney under the supervision of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council and the Tribal Chairman; Provides a broad range of legal services to the Hoopa Valley Tribe, including without limitation, advice, negotiation, drafting, research, lobbying, litigation in civil matters and representation in administrative proceedings as well as other duties as assigned. Attorney will not provide legal service to individual tribal members except upon the formal direction of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council. The successful candidate will receive all benefits provided by the Tribe to its other employees including sick, bereavement, and annual leave, retirement plan, health, dental, vision, and life insurance. REQUIREMENTS: California Bar membership; Experience in Indian law and civil litigation as well as self-governance, gaming, contracts, environmental, water, economic development and employment law is preferred. POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Fax cover letter, resume’, and writing sample to (530) 625-4847 or email to legal@hoopa-nsn.gov Or send it to:

Office of Tribal Attorney
P.O. Box 188
Hoopa, CA 95546
Phone: (530) 625-4211 ext. 130

Applicant selected will be subject to the Tribe’s Alcohol & Drug Policy. Preference will be given to qualified American Indian applicants.

JOB: Quinault Nation Prosecutor Services

Employer: Quinault Indian Nation
Address1: PO Box 189
Address2: 1214 Aalis Dr.City
StateZip: Taholah, WA 98587
Email: jlaw@quinault.org
Website: www.quinaultindiannation.com
Phone: (360) 276-8215 ext. 218
Fax: (360) 276-8354
AcceptingCalls: Yes
JobTitle: Prosecutor
Description: The Quinault Nation is accepting Prosecutor Services proposals. Service responsibilities include representing the Nation before Quinault Tribal Court. Related hearings normally occur Monday-Wednesday, and require availability via phone other days. First review of proposals June 17, 2009.
Contact: jlaw@quinault.org to request a RFP Packet.
Experience: Current Bar Members
Submit: See "Other" Comments
SubmitOther: Completed Request for Proposal Packet
SendBy: Mail,Fax,Email
Deadline: June 17, 2009

Job: Admin Assistant at Udall

There is an opening for an Administrative Assistant at the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona.

Applications must be filled out through the University of Arizona online application site. Link to the position:

www.uacareertrack.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=194573.
Required documents: online application, resume, letter of interest.

Resume and letter of interest can be uploaded with the application. The position is open until filled, with an initial review date of May 27, 2009 and start date around July 1, 2009. (Posting this position does not mean that Carrie is leaving. Her responsibilities are increasing, and her title will change.)

Summary of the position:
Pay range: $25,500 - $31,000, depending on experience

This position will provide administrative support and assistance to the staff of the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy (NNI). NNI was established by the Arizona Board of Regents in January 2001, with the express purpose of serving as a self-determination, development, and self-governance resource to Indigenous nations in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere by providing leadership and management programs, policy analysis and research, strategic and organizational development, and curricular resources for Native nations.

The incumbent will generally be called upon to make decisions in regards to acquisition and allocation of organizational resources, to coordinate the work activities of administrative staff/student employees, and to apply analytical and problem solving techniques to work units and business affairs, including financial and human resources matters. The incumbent must possess excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction. The incumbent will have contact with high-level administrative offices requiring use of business vocabulary, tact, discretion, and judgment in all forms of communication. This position reports to the Native Nations Institute's Operations Manager.
--
--------------------------------------------------
Rachel Rose Starks, MA
Research Analyst and Research Coordinator Native Nations Institute Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy University of Arizona
803 E. First Street
Tucson, AZ 85719
520-626-5756 Fax: 520-626-3664

Indian Legal Research Session

Complexities of Indian legal research detailed in seminar By Judy Nichols

A recent seminar, “Indian Legal Research: Unlocking the Secrets to Researching Indian Law,” drew nearly 60 people to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law to explore the rich and complex world of Indian law.

Those attending represented nine different Indian nations, members of tribal courts, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Arizona Governor’s Office, and many law firms.

The conference was conceived by Alison Ewing, library liaison for the Indian Legal Program at the College of Law, along with Beth DiFelice, assistant director and head of public services for the Ross-Blakley Law Library, and Tamara Herrera, clinical professor of law. It was encouraged by Rebecca Tsosie, director of the Indian Legal Program and Victoria Trotta, associate dean for Information Technology and the Ross-Blakley Law Library and supported by the staff of the Indian Legal Program.
Tsosie said the seminar was the first of its kind she had seen anywhere. And it is particularly timely as questions about Indian law may soon be on the state bar exam.

“Indian law is notoriously difficult to research because it involves federal and tribal court opinions, not to mention some state court opinions, as well as a great deal of federal legislation and treaties,” Tsosie said.

“This requires that you know where to look for the exact language as it was enacted by Congress, as well as knowing how to do a legislative history to see what Congress likely intended if there are interpretive issues.”

In addition, she said, researchers need to understand federal regulatory rules, that tribal court opinions may or may not be published, or they may be published in different venues and be indexed differently, and that the interdisciplinary nature of Indian law may require looking in non-legal sources.

The idea for the seminar was inspired by an e-mail from ASU President Michael Crow and College of Law Dean Paul Schiff Berman challenging staff members to think entrepreneurially and come up with creative ideas to offset budget cuts.

Ewing said she saw a real need for the program because the Indian Legal Program often gets request for research but they don’t have the resources to fulfill those requests. The seminar raised more than $5,500 for scholarships for the Indian Legal Program.

The seminar also was an outgrowth of the Indian Law Portal set up by Ewing, which serves as a resource for ASU law students, the legal community and Indian Country.

“We wanted to pull everything together in one spot,” Ewing said. “Indian law is a very interdisciplinary subject that draws on many disciplines, including environmental, cultural property, genetics, business, economic development, and so on.

“Indian legal materials also exist in a variety of formats, including maps, government documents, case law, oral histories, microforms, print and electronic.

“And the time frame is unusual. In other areas of the law, the most recent thing is the most important. But in Indian legal research, you often start with the oldest documents, like treaties from the 1700s, and work forward.”

Ewing said the seminar team’s skills complemented each other. Ewing has a strong background in research, having worked for many years as a legal researcher for Brown & Bain focusing mainly on Indian issues, including the Navajo-Hopi land dispute, the longest running lawsuit in U.S. history; Herrera has been a practitioner concentrating on water and Indian law; and DiFelice is a consummate teacher who has taught advanced legal research and Indian legal research at the College of Law.

Unlike other legal disciplines, many of the primary Indian resources are not available in standard resources, Ewing said. The portal includes a chart, “Arizona Tribal Law Resources,” that lists each of the federally recognized tribes in Arizona and where their legal information can be found, for example, if their tribal code, constitution, or tribal court opinions are online or owned by ASU. If the resources are online, the Indian law portal links to them.

Faraz Khan, principal systems developer for the College of Law’s Information Technology Department, created the technical framework for the portal, and Ewing said many of the College of Law librarians helped identify content.

Denise Hobson Ryan in NPR story

Denise Hobson Ryan ('03) was featured in a recent NPR story. See video and story at the link below.

As Requirements Change, Just Who Is An Indian? : NPR> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103938042&sc=emaf

Tsosie named Outstanding Teacher!

We just received this email from Dean Berman! Congratulations to Professor Tsosie!

As you may know, every year the students vote on the outstanding teacher at the College of Law. This year, the vote was a tie, and so I am pleased to announce that Carissa Hessick and Rebecca Tsosie will share the award. I also note that both Carissa and Rebecca, in addition to their obvious dedication to teaching, both also maintain a very active roster of scholarly, conference, and community service activities, giving the lie to any notion that these different aspects of professorial life are engaged in only on an either/or basis.
Heartiest congratulations to Carissa and Rebecca!
Paul
____________________________________
Paul Schiff Berman
Dean and Foundation Professor of Law
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University

JOB: Rosette & Associates

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Indian Law firm seeks associate attorney for associate position in Chandler, Arizona. Rosette & Associates is a quickly growing boutique law firm specializing in the representation of Indian tribal governments particularly in the areas of economic diversification and casino development. We offer competitive salaries and benefits. Our offices are located in Chandler, Arizona, San Francisco and Sacramento, California and Lansing, Michigan. More information about our firm is available at www.rosettelaw.com.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
. Bar admission.
. Strong academic and professional background.
. Transactional experience required.
. Strong organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
. Skilled in the use of the MS Office Suite of software (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel).
. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
. Excellent proofreading skills.
. Employee must be able to respect and adhere to the most rigid and strict rules of confidentiality

APPLICATION INFORMATION:
If you are interested and have a stable work history, please reply to this ad by submitting your resume, writing sample, references and a cover letter to rosetteSF@yahoo.com. If you graduated within the last seven years please include your transcript. Attachments should be in WORD or PDF format.

Principals only, please.