Decoding the Indian Law Conference
The Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Conference is a signature event for the organization and its members. Each year, the FBA draws together practitioners, judges, educators, governmental officials, and students from around the country for two days focused on issues central to their work with Native American communities. Last year marked the 26th anniversary of the event and it has grown to be the premier legal conference for Indian law practitioners in the country. The behind-the-scenes efforts and organization required to make each year a success are coordinated through the FBA Indian Law Section.
The success of the conference can be directly tied to the quality of the discussions and the dedication of the speakers co-chairs the planning committee, Alice Taylor Gresham, a shareholder with Jackson Lewis P.C. in Albuquerque and Henry Brean of Snell & Wilmer LLP in Phoenix, along with the planning committee. There were several great presentations and discussions this year. The conference was opened by Secretary Ryan Zinke of the Department of the Interior who provided an important overview of current policy issues raised by the Administration and provided some insight into the process he uses to evaluate proposed actions on Indian Country issues. The next day the Associate Solicitor for Land and Water, Department of the Interior, John Mills, provided a view from the Interior Department’s perspective on the complicated issues that arise from the unique property rights that exist in Indian Country. Both unique and important , the cases explored the tribal exercise of jurisdiction, the articulation of tribal police power, and the interplay between tribal and federal authority.
The primary goal of the Indian Law section is to provide education to the section members. While the conference is a great success, it is just one of the ways the association provides that education. The FBA Indian Law section also provides high quality monthly calls and webinars, each one of which focus on important Indian law topics. Further, they have developed great materials and resources on their website, the Indian Law Section resource page, located on the Federal Bar Association website. The resource page contains valuable information and resources for both practitioners and judges, including a list of helpful websites, links and tribal codes, a list of Indian country judges, and information on a variety of topics, many of which were discussed at the conference.
If you don’t currently participate in the regular month webinars, or if you missed the 2017 conference you missed a great opportunity. But, there will be another chance this year. The FBA Indian Law Section recently announced, that it will be holding another conference in Washington D.C. on October 22-23, 2018. The annual meeting and two day programming should provide another great opportunity to learn more about Indian law issues.
Insights and Conversations on Indian Law and Policy
Key topics and discussions, most of which are designed to provide a forum for open dialogue between key legal stakeholders, range from the interaction of tribes with state laws to federal programs related to economic development on tribal lands. While many of the topics covered at the conference each year come from the various FBA committees involved in Indian law and its updates, the agenda is not set until approximately three months prior to the conference. This year’s agenda is expected to equally be as valuable as in years past, as many of the industry’s leaders and experts plan to attend, and several members are involved in the various committees that organize the conference, allowing for an informative overview of the evergreen changes in Indian law occurring naturally and by design.
Speakers and Sessions to Watch
Participants at past FBA Indian Law Conferences have included top government officials, legal professionals, and tribal leaders with significant expertise in the field. Esteemed speakers have included U.S. Senators, federal judges, and distinguished faculty from leading law schools. In recent years, panels have featured noted scholars such as Professor Robert Anderson and Professor Carole Goldberg, who have penned key works on the history and contemporary status of federal-tribal relations. Tribal leaders, such as President David Bean of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and President Murle Kickingbird of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, have also brought their extensive knowledge to the conference. Other notable panelists include Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs Kathryn Isler, Coordinator of the Native American Program at the U.S. Department of Education Jeffrey Davis, Senior Policy Advisor – U.S. Department of Labor, and David Sanders. The invaluable insights shared have provided attendees with information they can apply to their own legal practices, businesses, or public policy work, and have inspired some to pursue further education in Indian Law.
Influences on Indian Law and Policy
For decades, the conference has influenced Indian law and policy-making at the federal and state levels. In 1944, resolutions from the then-Indian Law Conference, held in Rapid City, South Dakota, were sent to Congress recommending redress of grievances raised by the plaintiffs in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians, a U.S. Supreme Court decision over the control of land and minerals on the Great Sioux Reservation. The treaty signed between the United States and the Sioux Nation in 1868 ceded more than 40 million acres of land to the Sioux Nation through the reservation , which today spans parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana. The Supreme Court, deciding in favor of the Sioux Nation, ordered just compensation for the property after the government violated the agreement. Divided into more than 400 individual claims, remedying the federal government’s violations took more than 30 years. Today, the Sioux Nation case is considered one of the largest, if not the largest, class action cases in U.S. history.
Networking and Professional Advancement
The Indian Law Conference creates a unique platform for legal practitioners, scholars, and students to connect with peers and leaders in the field. For the more experienced professionals, in-house counsel, or tribal and federal government attorneys, the conference offers a chance to establish new collaborations to improve both organization and community practice. Trained and experienced law students are available for hire as clerks, interns, or researchers, and scholarship awards are given annually to support travel and attendance to the conference or other professional events. As this relatively small legal community grows, opportunities for employment also increase across practice areas. Presenters from all corners of Indian country and a wide range of legal experience are actively seeking new perspectives from the next generation of Indian law professionals. Law students and recent graduates can submit résumés for consideration by the conference participants and their network. The Indian Law conference offers an assortment of networking opportunities in a relaxed and non-competitive environment. This networking is made possible through the social events that are designed to promote participation and engagement among presenters and attendees alike. Time to get to know other participants during meals, breaks, and through out the conference allows for an open dialogue between practicing colleagues and those who are new to the group.
How to Get Involved
Participation is open to everyone; you need not be a member of the FBA to attend. The Conference will be held in Anchorage, Alaska on April 29 – May 2, 2010. Any interested person over the age of 18 may register prior to the event and can attend the entire conference or select individual sessions. Registration can be made online at: https://www.fedbar.org/Search.aspx?CategoryId=55 or by contacting Ann related registration issues at [email protected]. Any interested person over the age of 18 by must register on-site on the days of the event. Although the conference has yet to begin, interested people should already have registered for the conference hotel at the Sheraton Anchorage by following this link: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/FBAIndianLawConference.
All attendees must complete a registration form (available here: https://www.fedbar.org/Search.aspx?CategoryId=55) and submit it to Ann Layouttub via email at [email protected], or via fax to 202.785.4217. All persons registering after March 6, pay an additional $50 late fee. Again, online registration is available through the Federal Bar Association’s website at: https://www.fedbar.org/Search.aspx?CategoryId=55 .
The registration fees for the persons attending the 2010 Indian Law Conference is as follows: FBA Members: Registration Deadline Date Registration Fee Prior to 3/6/2010 $300 After 3/6/2010 $350 CJA Panel Attorneys: $150
Non-FBA Members: Registration Deadline Date Non-Member Registration Fee (includes FBA membership) Prior to 3/6/2010 $350 (includes individual membership dues for 2010) After 3/6/2010 $400 (includes individual membership dues for 2010)
Non-Attorneys (i.e. non-lawyer based staff): Registration Deadline Date Non-Attorney Registration Fee Prior to 3/6/2010 $150 After 3/6/2010 $175
Per Person Rates – FBA Member All Forms of Membership Registration Fee – FBA Members and Non-Members Registration Fee – Non-Attorneys Membership Dues – New FBA Members Membership Dues – Postmark before 12/31/09 $175 Membership Dues – Postmark after 12/31/09 $195 Membership Dues – Postmark before 12/31/09 $75 Membership Dues – Postmark after 12/31/09 $95
All persons must register on-site on the days of the event. The on-site registration fee schedule follows this post. All interested individuals should complete an on-site registration form and submit this to Ann related registration issues at [email protected]. Individuals can find additional registration information through the FBA Northern District of California Chapter Indian Law Conference page at: http://fbacalb.com/indian_law_conference.html.