Native Law Group Recognized as “Best Law Firms” Two Years in a Row
For the second year in a row, Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP earned a top-tier ranking in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Law Firms” list for 2023. In the practice area of Native American Law, the firm received a Tier 1 ranking for the Colorado...
Supreme Court to Hear Case Threatening Winters Indian Water Rights Doctrine
Contributors: Frances C. Bassett, Partner Barry Bartel, Partner The United States Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a case that could threaten the more than 100-year-old “Winters” doctrine, which upholds and protects Indian water rights. In Winters v. United...
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Case Challenging ICWA
On November 9, 2022, the United States Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case. The Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of ICWA, its validity under the Indian Commerce Clause, and claims that...
Interior Announces Improved 477 Program
By Donald Walton, Associate Attorney On October 7, 2022, the Department of the Interior and other federal departments announced a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to implement the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2017. Under the...
CRYP 2022 Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive in Progress
The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s annual Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive is now under way, and the nonprofit organization is reaching out to hundreds of families to ensure that their children’s holiday wishes come true. Wo Otúh’an Wi means “Moon of Giving Away Presents” in...
White House Announces 2022 Tribal Nations Summit
The White House announced that it will hold the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30th and December 1st, 2022 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Registrations are due by Monday, November 14, 2022. The White House states that each...
Treasury Extends Deadline for Tribal Consistency Fund Applications
Erin Shanley, Contributing Attorney The U.S. Department of Treasury extended the deadline for Tribal Governments to complete their submissions for the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) from October 31, 2022, to January 31, 2023. Under the Local...
Eighth Circuit Allows State Tax on Contractor Doing Work to Expand Tribal Casino
Barry C. Bartel, Contributing Attorney On October 4, 2022, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that South Dakota could tax a nonmember contractor doing construction work on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe's casino. The Court held that the state tax was not...
Renewable Energy Tax Credits for Tribes
Cassondra Britton, Contributing Attorney The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes a new provision that allows tribes to utilize renewable energy tax credits to finance and develop renewable energy projects. The provision solves a long-standing problem that tribal...
FEMA Announces National Tribal Strategy
Jason Decker, Contributing Attorney On August 18, 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its “2022-2026 FEMA National Tribal Strategy.” The impetus for a National Tribal Strategy can be traced back to the enactment of the Recovery Improvement...