Date:
Friday, November 20, 2026
Event Schedule:
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lecture
Location:
University of Maine School of Law
300 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101
Maine Law School 2026 Indian Law & History Lecture
Job Postings 11/5/26
2027 Virtual Spring Law Clerk Position
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Civil Trial Court and Court of Appeals, Remote
The Rincon Virtual Spring Law Clerk will be working in the leading tribal courts in the country under the direct supervision of Rincon’s tribal judges. The 2027 Spring Law Clerk will work on projects related to tribal court development and perform designated duties involving legal research and writing. Must be currently enrolled as a 2L or 3L at an ABA accredited law school. Academic Credit Open until filled https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:a51380c7-8141-497c-9c17-83b196d85bab
Attorney Advisor – Indian Probate
NEW Solutions, Inc., Remote
Enrollees will support the Probate Hearings Division Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) and Indian Probate Judges (IPJ) for in-person or virtual hearings to resolve backlogged Indian probate cases.
•Act as duly appointed master under the supervision of ALJs and IPJs in Indian Probate cases. Administer oaths and affirmations. Conduct on the record evidentiary hearings.
•Address motions pertaining to the propriety or adequacy of the pleadings involved. Consider testimony and the admissibility of evidence. Address motions involving questions of law and procedure.
•Regulate the conduct of witnesses, attorneys, and the course of hearings, including examination and cross-examination of witnesses. Hear oral arguments of the parties, consider their written briefs, and propose findings of fact and conclusions of law. Perform factual and legal research on a variety of difficult issues in diverse subject areas.
JD or LLB degree with minimum additional experience of 15 years in attorney roles. Experience in probate law a plus but not required. Must maintain active law license and be an active member of the bar. Individuals must be at least 55 years of age to be eligible to work through the Experienced Services Program. $60 per hour Open until filled. https://newsolutions.org/jobs/position-details/?position_id=9682
Deputy Legal Director
ACLU of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska (Hybrid)
The ACLU of Alaska seeks a Deputy Legal Director to serve as the lead civil rights and liberties litigator-managing their own caseload, supporting the work of other affiliate attorneys, leading the build of a pipeline of talent for Alaska civil rights and liberties defense, and partnering with outside counsel-in the ongoing effort to protect and expand the civil liberties and civil rights of all Alaskans. They pursue work via an integrated advocacy model coordinating among the legal, policy, communications, and community engagement teams. “While no one candidate may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will be passionate about the mission and values of ACLU of Alaska and will bring many of the following skills and experiences:
•Demonstrated experience litigating complex matters in state and federal court with at least seven years of active legal practice;
•Demonstrated project management abilities;
•Proven supervision experience;
•Demonstrated ability to work proactively, collaboratively, and independently as needed;
•Passion for the ACLU of Alaska’s mission; and
•Ability to work flexibly in a hybrid in-person/work-from-home/remote environment, remaining attentive to the team’s needs regardless of setting.
Salary $95,000 – $115,000 Open until 12/31/2026 https://recruitcrm.io/apply/17884641967500130618KwO
Women elected to lead Navajo and Seneca governments in historic firsts
On Tuesday, Crystalyne Curley was elected the next president of the Navajo Nation. She’s the first woman to be elected to the position. Raised in Fish Point, a small community about 23 miles southwest of Chinle, Crystalyne Curley built a career across the Navajo Nation’s judicial, legislative, and executive branches before becoming the first woman elected Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council in 2023. She has described growing up in a rural community without running water and has connected that experience to her focus on infrastructure and services in remote communities.
Curley’s running mate was former Arizona state Rep. Christopher Deschene. Curley won by a narrow margin, and her opponent Justin Jones has stated that he intends to the challenge the results.
Seneca Nation voters elected Tina Abrams President on Nov. 3, making her the first woman to hold the Nation’s highest elected office. Abrams has served on the Seneca Nation Council since 2001 and became its first woman co-chair in 2012.
The election also puts women in all three elected executive offices at Seneca for the first time: Abrams as President, Lenith Waterman as Treasurer, and Bethany Johnson as Clerk. The Seneca Nation adopted its democratic form of government under its Constitution in 1848.
Abram’s historic win is also notable since Seneca Nation is matrilineal, but women only secured the right to vote after 1964 referendum. Once her win was announced, Abrams stated,
The Seneca people did not go to the polls to elect a woman President today. We went to the polls to choose a president who can lead our Nation with strength, honesty, vision and conviction. That is my charge.
Sean McCann, Democrat and Citizen Potawatomi member, wins Michigan Congressional seat
Our earlier post on McCann is here.
McCann’s win, called by the AP at 1:13 pm this afternoon, is a major upset in a region of Southwest Michigan that’s long been represented by Republicans. Democrats last represented the Kalamazoo area in Congress through Howard Wolpe, who left office in 1993.
The unofficial results published by the New York Times show McCann earning 50.1% of the vote to Republican Bill Huizenga’s 48.3%. MI-4 overlaps with several counties, including Kalamazoo, Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren, Calhoun, and Berrien. The region is home to the service areas of the Gun Lake Tribe, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, and the Pokagon Band.
McCann issued the following statement:
Even though we were told over and over that this race wasn’t winnable, we built a big and broad coalition of people from every corner of this district, every political party, who believe that our government should work for the people and not the powerful. This victory belongs to the people all across Southwest Michigan, and it’s the people that I will work every day to serve – to take on the corruption and policies shortchanging our families, and work with anyone to make life better and protect the American Dream for our children.
Native Women Lead: Celebrating the Women Shaping What Comes Next
Love the history made last night for Native women!
We have Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) elected Governor of NM; Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation) elected Senator from MN; Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk Nation) re-elected to Congress for a fifth term for KS-03, representing much of metropolitan Kansas City; and newcomer Claire Valdez (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo), elected to Congress for New York’s 7th Congressional District, which includes portions of Brooklyn and Queens, including Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Long Island City, and Sunnyside.
We’re also still waiting for the final results of the Senate race in Alaska, where Mary Peltola (Yup’ik) is trailing in a close race with Dan “S.” Sullivan.
And this doesn’t even include several wins in state house and senate races, nor does it include Tina Abrams, who became the first woman elected President of the Seneca Nation yesterday.
Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples issues final report on Indigenous land titling
In his October 12 report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert Kwokwo Barume, briefly describes the demarcation and titling of Indigenous Peoples’ lands and territories in seven regions of the world and concludes that it remains “uneven and inadequate.”
His much more detailed July 2025 report, Identification, demarcation, registration and titling of
Indigenous Peoples’ lands: practices and lessons, is here.
SD Judge Rules Voters Must be Allowed to Wear ‘Natives Vote’ Shirts at Polls
A federal court on ordered protections for voters exercising their right to vote while wearing “Natives Vote” and other nonpartisan Native vote apparel.
In a suit filed Monday against Charles Mix County and Charles Mix County Auditor Jason Gant, in his official capacity, Yankton Sioux Tribe member Lonnie Provost alleged his First Amendment rights were violated when he was denied a ballot for wearing a “Natives Vote” shirt in 2024.
Provost testified about that experience and the likelihood of it reoccurring, given Auditor Gant’s position leading up to the election that these shirts violated South Dakota’s electioneering statute.
Judge Karen Schreier ruled on Election Day that voters must be allowed to wear nonpartisan Native Vote apparel while voting and instructed elections officials to communicate that ruling to poll workers throughout Charles Mix County. She found that Mr. Provost was likely to succeed on his claim that the restrictions violated his First Amendment rights. She granted emergency relief from the bench and subsequently issued a written temporary restraining order.
“No voter should have to choose between expressing pride in Native electoral participation and casting a ballot,” said Samantha Blencke, Senior Staff Attorney for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), which co-represented Provost with the firm Robins Kaplan. “Lonnie’s shirt encourages Native people to vote. It supports no candidate, political party, or ballot measure. He should be able to wear it while exercising his right to vote.”
According to the complaint, in 2024, at least five and perhaps as many as 20 other Native voters were required to remove or cover their shirts to vote. Provost refused and was denied a ballot. NARF sought corrective action then and continued pressing county and state officials for protections before this year’s election.
Tuesday’s order prohibited officials from denying Provost a ballot or requiring him to remove, cover, or turn his protected apparel inside out.
After the court’s ruling, Provost successfully voted while wearing his “Natives Vote” shirt.
The order also requires Gant to immediately instruct election workers at every Charles Mix County polling place that eligible voters must be allowed to vote wearing nonpartisan Native Vote apparel. That includes “Native Vote,” “Natives Vote,” and “Get Out the Native Vote,” with variations in artwork or wording, provided the apparel does not also advocate for or against a candidate, party or ballot measure.
The court found that Gant’s recent assurances were insufficient to moot the case because he could reverse his instructions. Without court protection, Provost risked losing an opportunity that could not be restored after the election.
“The actions by Charles Mix County send precisely the wrong message,” said Thad Titze, an associate at Robins Kaplan. “Our democracy depends on an active citizenry, one that takes the responsibility for casting a ballot seriously. We need more people following Lonnie’s enthusiasm, not less.”
The order remains effective until voting is completed at all Charles Mix County polling places on Election Day. The lawsuit also seeks declaratory and permanent injunctive relief.
Native voters who encounter difficulties obtaining or casting a ballot at any point before all votes are counted should contact NARF at the Election Protection Hotline 866-OUR-VOTE or vote@narf.org.
ILPC Annual Conference: Call for Presentation and Panel Proposals
UM Ross 4th Annual Native American Heritage Month Symposium, Nov. 4, 2026
Cultural Heritage Partners’ resources on Section 106
Cultural Heritage Partners has created a website called 106Strong with several resources related to the multi-pronged threat to Section 106. The resources include:
- Overview of Section 106 changes in BAAJA, the ACHP’s effort to rewrite Section 106 regulations, and the actions of the Executive Branch to avoid or limit review for specific projects;
- Resources that explain the changes to NHPA included within the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) bill, including a one-pager, a webinar, a slide deck, the bill text, a redline of NHPA provisions amended by the BAAJA bill, and a model tribal resolution opposing the bill;
- BAAJA’s empty promises to Tribal Nations: Claim vs. Fact;
- and other resources
CHP’s 5-minute video below translates the technical aspects of Section 106 into a message for the general public. It connects Tribal consultation and historic preservation to the broader principle that communities should have a voice before irreplaceable places are harmed. Its storytelling is emotional, and it calls on people to contact Congress. The video provides a useful tool for building public understanding and support.
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