The University of Michigan NALSA will host its annual Indian Law Day on April 10, 2009 at 12:30 PM. The subject is the Indian Child Welfare Act. Here is the agenda:
Introduction to ICWA basics: Colette Routel
Introduction to current ICWA issues (National Perspective). Keynote speaker, Mark Tilden — Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund (author of ICWA Resource Guide)
Tribal Panel (addressing current ICWA issues from the perspective of Indian tribes). Speakers: Matthew Fletcher, GTB member and Professor at Michigan State Law School; Allie Maldonado, LTBB member and in-house counsel for her tribe.
State Panel (addressing current ICWA issues from the perspective of the state courts). Speakers: Judge Laura Baird, Chief Judge, Ingham County; Judge Elizabeth Gleicher, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals.
Individual Panel (addressing current ICWA issues from the perspective of parents, both Native and non-Native). Speakers: Nancy Dean and Tom Myers, Staff Attorney, Michigan Indian Legal Services.
Each speaker will probably present for 20-25 minutes. After everyone on the panel has presented, the audience will have time for questions.
We will serve lunch at noon and we plan to finish the program by 5:00 p.m.
Turtle Talk 
How do I sign up to attend the U of M Indian Law Day?
I think you can just go, Scott. It’s usually open to the public.
I applaud the effort in this matter. Having worked on both sides of this issues I can honestly say the the State of Michigan both the courts and the Department of Human Services have struggled in implmentation of the federal law. Recently, the tribes of the State, DHS and the SCOA have come together to take up ICWA. Michigan with a good effrot on behalf of all those involved have an oppurtunity to develop model program regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act and collborations with the tribes within the state and elsewhere. Great timing !!!