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[Virtual] Indian Law Conference
Resilience: From Trying Times to a Brighter Future
Join the Indian Law Section for the 46th Annual Indian Law Conference on April 8-9, 2021. This newly formatted two-day virtual program will offer the same great content online.
As tribal nations move down a path of healing and reaffirming inherent rights, this conference examines challenges posed by the prior administration and global pandemic, as well as how tribal nations are moving forward in a new political and global health climate. This conference will examine recent significant judicial decisions for tribes, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges to civil rights, and how tribes are mobilizing in a new environment—both politically and economically.
Agenda
Thursday, April 8
11:30 am – 1:00 pm ET | Opening Session
- Opening Prayer & Invocation
- Whitney Gravelle, Bay Mills Indian Community Chairwoman
- Welcome Remarks
- W. West Allen, Federal Bar Association President
- Ann Tweedy, Indian Law Section Chair
- Keynote Presentation
- Rep. Sharice Davids, U.S. Congress – 3rd District of Kansas
- Lawrence R. Baca Lifetime Achievement Awards Presentation
1:30 – 3:00 pm ET | Concurrent Panels
Sports Betting: Exploring a New Landscape in Tribal Gaming
This panel will discuss recent developments in tribal sports betting, highlighting key regulatory and business considerations. Attendees will learn about sports betting across different jurisdictions, including what tribes have done to work with state legislatures to legalize and implement sports betting, and what is and isn’t permitted in different jurisdictions. Attendees will also learn about the financial outlook for sports betting.
- Brie Coyle Jones, Partner, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP
- Kathryn Isom-Clause, Vice Chair, National Indian Gaming Commission
- Jeremy Patterson, Partner, Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP
- Aaron Payment, Chairperson, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
The Path to the Bench
In the history of the United States, only four Native Americans have been appointed to the federal bench which includes only one Native American woman. As a new administration seeks out candidates to fill vacancies in the federal courts, Native American practitioners must seek out these opportunities to increase the Native American perspective and presence in the judiciary. This panel will explore the importance of racial diversity on the federal bench, the path to appointment, and the measures and resources available to candidates.
- Lawrence Baca, Former Deputy Director, Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice
- Hon. Diane Humetewa, United States District Court for the District of Arizona
- Rion Ramirez, CEO, Port Madison Enterprises
- Forrest Tahdooahnippah, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
3:30 – 5:00 pm ET | Concurrent Panels
Tribes, Public Lands, and Environmental Issues
This panel will discuss current and future challenges for tribes relating to public lands and environmental issues, including regulatory changes under the prior administration and outlook for the future.
- Amy Cordalis, Principal, Ridges to Riffles Conservation Fund
- Nada Wolff-Culver, Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior*
- Michael-Corey F. Hinton, Attorney, Drummond Woodsum
- Gussie Lord, Managing Attorney of Tribal Partnerships, Earth Justice
McGirt: The Aftermath
This panel will discuss developments in Oklahoma and in Washington, D.C., following the Supreme Court’s historic decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. Attendees will learn about what the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has experienced since the decision, including hearing from Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill himself (a “Time 100” most influential person for 2020!). This panel will discuss topics of great import to all Indian law attorneys – self-governance, VAWA, MMIP, and inter-sovereign relations.
- Jonodev Chaudhuri, Partner & Practice Chair, Quarels & Brady LLP; Ambassador, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- David Hill, Principal Chief, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Mary Katherine Nagle, Partner, Pipestem & Nagle, P.C.
- Trent Shores, Shareholder, GableGotwals
Friday, April 9
11:30 am – 1:00 pm ET | Ethics Session
Attendees will learn about the ethical rules guiding who is their client and obligations, if any, to other, related parties. Attendees will also receive guidance on what the no contact rule is and its implications for the practice of Indian law. Finally, following competition of this panel, attendees will be familiar with the professional rules guiding legal advice given under time pressure. While the panel is targeted toward lawyers working for tribal governments or with tribal clients, all lawyers will receive helpful ethical guidance on the general practice of law.
- Bree R. Black Horse, Attorney, Kilpatrick Townsend
- Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner, S.J. Quinney School of Law, University of Utah
- Alex Pearl, Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Law
- Rachel B. Saimons, Attorney, Kilpatrick Townsend
General Session Sponsored by Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker LLP
1:30 – 3:00 pm ET | Concurrent Panels
Civil Rights – Protections for Our LGBTQ2S Communities
The civil rights of LGBTQ2S Native Americans are in need of recognition and protection. This panel examines the development of legislation and policy for these communities at the tribal, state, and federal level.
- Delegate Nathaniel Brown, Navajo Nation
- Kori Cordero, Associate General Counsel, Yurok Tribe
- Felipa De Leon & Monique “Muffie” Mousseau, Spirit Community Members, Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Red Dawn Foster, 27th District, South Dakota State Senate
COVID Lessons Learned
This panel will discuss lessons learned from COVID from the tribal court perspective and general tribal governance perspective.
- Ethel Branch, Interim Executive Director, The Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund
- Martina Gast, Attorney, Pipestone Law
- Hon. Allie Maldonado, Chief Judge, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Tribal Court
- Daniel Press, Senior Counsel, Van Ness Feldman LLP
3:30 – 5:00 pm ET | Concurrent Panels
Developments in Criminal Law
This panel will discuss recent developments in criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country, including the United States v. Cooley and Nobles v. State, and will also discuss implications for MMIP.
- Troy A. Eid, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
- Krystalyn Kinsel, Associate, Jenner & Block
- Colette Routel, Professor of Law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- April Youpee-Roll, Associate, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
Toward a Brighter Future?
The Biden/Harris Administration: Priorities, Opportunities, and Challenges. What does the historic election of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris mean for the next four years and beyond?
- Brian Newland, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Raina Thiele, Founder & CEO, Thiele Strategies
- Heather Dawn Thompson, Director, Office of Tribal Relations, U.S. Department of Agriculture
*Pending Office Approval
Registration
Registration for this program is now closed.
Attendees will receive virtual access information via email on Monday, April 5.
Live Captioning: Should you request live captioning or another accommodation in order to participate in this webinar, please contact meetings@fedbar.org at least 10 days before the event so we may make the necessary arrangements.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be made for cancellations received after the close of business on Friday, April 2. Please contact Ariel White at awhite@fedbar.org with cancellation and/or substitution requests.
CLE
Certificates and credit for the virtual conference will be processed/reported within 4-6 weeks of the event date and available for credit in states that allow credit for live webinar presentations. You must attend the live broadcast, answer engagement polls, and accurately enter your bar number in our database to receive credit.
Available CLE Credit Hours –
60 Minute States: Up to 7.5 CLE Credits (including 1.5 Ethics Credits)
50 Minute States: Up to 9 CLE Credits (1.8 Ethics Credits)
Sponsorship
General Session Sponsor
Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker LLP
Email sponsor@fedbar.org if you’re interested in sponsoring this event. View our Virtual Sponsorship Prospectus for current offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual panels?
A: Virtual panels will each have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a welcome email and calendar invitations the week of the conference.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the conference. Please note that CLE credit will only be submitted for attendees that watch the live broadcast.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact meetings@fedbar.org for any other questions.
Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
Financial Assistance
Program registrants (both FBA members and nonmembers) who are unable to afford the registration fee may receive a 50% discount on the member rate. Qualifying attorneys include those who are unemployed or actively seeking employment. A formal letter requesting the discount must be emailed to meetings@fedbar.org. That letter needs to state the reason for the attorney’s interest in the course or activity, as well as proof of income or an explanation of the financial hardship, and it must be signed by the requesting lawyer.