2014 FBA DC Indian Law Conference

Roundtable on the Federal Trust Responsibility – Perspectives of a Federal Government Lawyer
Moderator: Loretta Tuell, Conference Co-Chair, Greenberg Traurig
Speakers:
Jonathan Binder, Environmental Protection Agency
Jonathan Damm, Internal Revenue Service
John Hay, National Indian Gaming Commission
Julia Pierce, Indian Health Service
Jeffrey Prieto, Acting General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Venus Prince, Associate Solicitor of Indian Affairs
Maureen Rudolph, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Dept. of Justice

Federal Recognition
Moderator: Gina Allery, Conference Co-Chair, ENRD United States Dept. of Justice
Speakers:
Michael Anderson, Anderson Indian Law
Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Director of the Indian Legal Clinic at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Pat Rogers, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Heather Sibbison, Dentons

Keynote
Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)
Moderator: Loretta Tuell
Speakers:
Steve Bodmer, Deputy General Counsel, Pechanga Tribe
Scott Crowell, Crowell Law Office – Tribal Advocacy Group
Paula Hart, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Indian Gaming
Alex Skibine, Professor, College of Law, University of Utah

Ethics
Moderator: Richard Guest, Native American Rights Fund
Speakers:
Rebecca Chapman, Chapman Law
Gabe Galanda, Galanda Broadman (via Skype)
Peter Lepsch, Lepsch Law Office

Tribal Energy Development
Moderator: Jennifer Turner, U.S. Dept. of the Interior – Office of the Solicitor
Speakers:
Paul Moorehead, Powers Pyles & Verville
Larry Roberts, Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs
Jennifer Weddle, Greenberg Traurig
Rollie Wilson, Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP

Here:

8:00 am	Registration
8:30 am	Welcome & Prayer
8:45 am	Roundtable on the Federal Trust Responsibility – Perspectives of a Federal Government Lawyer Government attorneys from Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, Department of Justice and other Federal agencies will discuss the roles and responsibilities of federal lawyers when administering programs that impact tribes. They will also discuss how to navigate the bureaucracy on behalf of your clients. Speakers: Maria Wiseman, Department of the Interior Jonathan Damm, Internal Revenue Service Pat Barry, Department of Justice – Invited Jeffrey Prieto, Department of Agriculture Jonathan Binder, Environmental Protection Agency – Invited Julia Pierce, Indian Health Service -Invited John Hay, National Indian Gaming Commission
9:45 am	Break
10:00 am	Federal Recognition Recently the Department of the Interior issued proposed revisions to the regulations on the Federal acknowledgment of Indian tribes. This panel will discuss the new regulations, legislative efforts to obtain recognition, the potential recognition of Native Hawaiians, and the right to tribal self-determination that is recognized under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Moderator: Gina Allery Speakers: Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Director of the Indian Legal Clinic at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Michael Anderson, Anderson Indian Law Heather Sibbison, Dentons
11:00 am	Environmental Law and Indian Tribes The White House recently announced the new Tribal Climate Resilience Program to assist tribes in preparing for climate change and as part of that program, the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are partnering to create a new subgroup on climate change under the White House Council on Native American Affairs. In addition, EPA unveiled its Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes and Indigenous Peoples in July. This panel will discuss the impact of climate change on tribal communities, EPA’s and other Federal agencies policies, and the incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge into agency decisions. Moderator: Wilda Wahpepah – Sheppard Mullin Speakers: Jodi Gillette, Special Assistant to the President for Native American Affairs Julie Kane, Office of Legal Counsel for Nez Perce – Invited Dean Suagee, Hobbs Strauss Susi Schaeffer, Dentons
12:00 pm	Lunch Keynote Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian
1:30 pm	Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) With the IGRA turning 25 last year, several legal, legislative and technological developments potentially threaten the ability of tribes to operate profitable gaming facilities. As the tribal gaming industry matures, technological advances in gaming machines are impacting the scope of class II and class III gaming and the rise of internet gaming could potentially impact brick and mortar operations. Additionally, the Obama Administration’s gaming decisions and policies are impacting tribal-state compact negotiations and a state’s role under the IGRA. This panel will discuss these topics and the potential pitfalls that each one presents to tribal gaming operations. Moderator: Loretta Tuell, Greenberg Traurig Speakers: Alex Skibine, Professor, College of Law, University of Utah Scott Crowell, Crowell Law Office -Tribal Advocacy Group Paula Hart, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Indian Gaming Steve Bodmer, Deputy General Counsel, Pechanga Tribe
2:30 pm	Ethics What are the ethical considerations of representing opposing factions in tribal government disputes? Moderator: Richard Guest – NARF Speakers: Gabe Galanda , Galanda Broadman Peter Lepsch, Lepsch Law Office Rebecca Chapman – Chapman Law
3:45 pm	Break
4:00 pm	Tribal Energy Development With the Obama Administration’s focus on domestic energy development, tribal governments have become interested in exploring opportunities for alternative and renewable energy development. However, several obstacles to these projects remain. This panel will discuss some of the opportunities and challenges regarding alternative and renewable energy development in Indian country and the impact of the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH Act) on these projects. Moderator: Jennifer Turner, U.S. Department of the Interior – Office of the Solicitor Speakers: Jennifer Weddle, Greenberg Traurig Paul Moorehead, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville Rollie Wilson, Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP – Invited Jody Tallbear, Attorney Advisor, Department of Energy

Turtle Talk

2014 FBA DC Indian Law Conference

FBA DC Indian Law Conference: Photos

2014 FBA DC Indian Law Conference Agenda — November 14, 2014