cultural resources

Hillary Hoffman on the Bears Ears Coalition

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Hillary Hoffman has posted “Collaborative Management of Bears Ears National Monument: Perspectives from the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition” on SSRN.

Here is the abstract:

Tribal collaborative management of the Bears Ears National Monument is not new, but in its most recent iteration, it has only been recently recognized as a viable management framework.  This article explores the meaning of that re-recognition to the five Tribal Nations of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, an organization that was formed to re-establish those ancestral connections and support the ongoing collaborative management of the Monument by the Bears Ears Commission and the two federal agencies charged with the legal mandate to protect this cultural landscape: the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. 

Tribal Amicus Brief in Prisoner Rights Suit

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the brief in Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections and Public Safety:

23-1197 NCAI USET Huy Amicus Brief.pdfDownload

Ninth Circuit Holds CERCLA Damages May Be Assessed for Natural Resources Injuries with a Cultural Dimension

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the opinion in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. Teck Caminco Metals Ltd.

Briefs here

Nez Perce Tribe Sues over Approval of Open Pit Gold Mine

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Nez Perce Tribe v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (D. Idaho):

1 Complaint.pdfDownload

Arizona Federal Court Declines to Issue Preliminary Injunction in Oak Flat Matter

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are the new materials in San Carlos Apache Tribe v. United States (D. Ariz.):

105 Tribe Motion for Preliminary Injunction

114 Federal Opposition

116 Resolution Copper Opposition

119 Reply

124 DCT Order

Tribes Move to Intervene in Chuckwalla National Monument Lawsuit

Matthew Campbell

On August 11, 2025, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Chemeheuvi Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, and Morongo Band of Mission Indians, moved to intervene in Torongo v. Burgum, a case that threatens the long-sought designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument. Tribal Nations led the effort to establish Chuckwalla National Monument. The challenge to the monument is brought in federal court by a Michigan resident who purportedly has mining claims within the monument boundaries and a national off-road vehicle special interest group. 

More here.

Complaint is here:

Chuckwalla Case Complaint – Torongo v. Burgum Download

NARF’s Work in Alaska Over 40 Years

Matthew Campbell

The Native American Rights Fund has provided legal assistance to Tribes in Alaska since NARF’s founding in the early 1970s. In 1984, NARF opened an Alaska office so it could better serve Alaska Native Tribes and individuals. In the 40 years since NARF Alaska opened its doors, the office has litigated some of the most influential cases in the development of federal Indian law in Alaska. Below is an overview of the foundational work that NARF has done with and on behalf of Alaska Native Tribal governments and people.

NARF Legal ReviewDownload

Apache Women Sue US over Proposed Oak Flat Destruction

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Lopez v. United States (D.D.C.):

1 Complaint.pdfDownload

San Carlos Apache Tribe Renews Opposition to Oak Flat Copper Mine

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are new materials in San Carlos Apache Tribe v. Dept. of Agriculture (D. Ariz.):

99 DCT Stay Order.pdfDownload
104 Second Amended Complaint.pdfDownload
105 Motion for Injunction.pdfDownload

D.C. Circuit Briefs in Narragansett Indian Tribe v. White

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

Opening Brief.pdfDownload
USET Amicus.pdfDownload
Federal Brief.pdfDownload
Reply.pdfDownload