SECTION HIGHLIGHT
Indian Law Section
The Indian Law Section was initiated in 2016
after SBAND recognized the need for a section
that promoted the practice of Federal Indian Law
and Tribal Court practice. North Dakota is home
to five federally-recognized Indian tribes and a
growing Native American population.
The Indian Law Section provides a forum for
discourse and education about Federal Indian
Law and tribal legal issues. The section provides
professional development and networking
opportunities for Indian Law attorneys; serves
as a resource on Indian law issues; and promotes
recruitment of Native Americans to law school
and SBAND.
“As a practicing attorney in North Dakota, it
is likely you will encounter an issue involving
Indian Law, regardless of what area of law you
practice. Membership in the Indian Law Section
can provide North Dakota attorneys with the
resources and connections they may need to
competently address these issues,” says Erin
Shanley, former chairperson. “It is a great group of
people involved in promoting an important area of
law in our state.”
Since its formation, the section has co-
sponsored two Continuing Legal Education
(CLE) seminars. “Resistance, Resilience &
Reconciliation: Indigenous Environmental Justice”
was held at the University of North Dakota
(UND) School of Law in April 2017. “Tribal Civil
Jurisdiction” was held during the United Tribes
Technical College (UTTC) Leadership Summit
in September 2017. The CLEs provided valuable
information about current issues in Indian Law.
The section has also developed a relationship
with the state’s tribal colleges, inviting them to
participate in events at UND and collaborating
with them to provide informational sessions about
law school and the practice of law.
The section co-sponsored a CLE event with
the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
(NDIAC) as part of NDIAC’s larger event titled,
“Strengthening Government-to-Government
Relationships and Partnerships.” The CLE, a
plenary panel discussion on the topic of Tribal
Consultation, was held on Jan. 31, in Bismarck.
The panel was moderated by Professor James
Grijalva of the UND School of Law, with panel
members including Supreme Court Justice Jerod
Tufte, Standing Rock Tribal Attorney
Dean DePountis, Governor Doug
Burgum’s General Counsel Leslie
Bakken Oliver, and District Judge
Donovan Foughty.
Currently, the section has approximately
50 members, which includes both
lawyers and non-lawyers. Officers
include Sharon Thompson, chairperson;
Rachel Egstad, chair-elect; and Erica
Wondrasek, treasurer/secretary.
“Being a part of this section would be a
great opportunity for any professional
in this state to make connections with
others who frequently practice and/
or work in tribal courts and/or Federal
Indian Law,” says Shanley. “Tribes
have a unique status within our federal
government and within the state of
North Dakota, and it is important that
as attorneys, we all know how best to
represent them in any forum, whether it
be state, federal, or tribal.”
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WINTER 2018
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