In this CLE, we will briefly cover the
history of legal interaction between the federal government and Indian tribes,
and while doing so, posit consideration on best practice within the contemporary
realm of tribal business law. Throughout American history, officials within the
federal judiciary and Congress have interpreted and formulated law to both harm
Indian tribes, and in some instances, promote their interests. Our aim is to
instigate critical discussion on how Federal Indian law took shape in the
context of a colonial relationship, one whose legacy has had tangible effects on Indian tribes’ legal
structures and behaviors today. We believe it is essential for
transactional/business law attorneys to develop and retain some familiarity with this
history in order to foster a deeper and more sensitive understanding of
how exactly to serve tribal clients
well.
This CLE is approved for credit
through February 12, 2019.
Presenters:
Forrest
Tahdooahnippah is an associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, where he is
a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation and Indian Law practice
groups. He is an enrolled member of the federally-recognized Indian tribe
the Comanche Nation, located in Lawton, Oklahoma. He received his J.D.
magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2010 and received
a B.A. with honors from Stanford University in 2007.
Heidi
Drobnick is the managing partner of Swanson, Drobnick & Tousey and
practices in the areas of Indian law, business law, probate, and wills and
trusts. Heidi is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe-Lake
Superior Band - Nett Lake Reservation. She received her J.D. from the University
of Minnesota. For six years, Heidi served as an adjunct professor at the
University of Minnesota Law School for the Indian Child Welfare Law Clinic. She
also served as the Presiding Judge for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and
Assistant General Counsel for the Prairie Island Indian Community-Treasure
Island Resort and Casino. Heidi is a member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar
Association and served as its treasurer for six
years.
Moderators:
Steven Reeves is a Partner at
Faegre Baker Daniels and is a member of its corporate and international
practices, where he specializes in strategic domestic and cross-border M&A
transactions. Before attending law school at the University of Minnesota
(cum laude JD 2004), and after graduating from Cornell University's School of
Hotel Management (honors, BS 1997), he spent almost four years working at Le
Cirque restaurant in New York City. Steven serves on the Board of Governors of
the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and is currently
its Treasurer (http://www.napaba.org/
). Steven is also a member of the Board of Directors for LegalCORPS and
has been volunteering with LegalCORPS since 2005.
Jeanine
Hill is a general practice litigation and transactions attorney at
Meyer & Njus, P.A. in Minneapolis. She is a past pro bono volunteer and past
member of the LegalCORPS Board of Directors. She also served as Co-Chair of the
Entrepreneurs of Color Committee and served on the Fundraising Committee of
LegalCORPS. Jeanine is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Indian
tribe the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians located in Belcourt, North
Dakota. Jeanine serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota American
Indian Bar Association (MAIBA) and is currently its Vice President (http://www.maiba.org/). She graduated from the
University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2006. Jeanine practices in federal,
state and tribal courts. She currently serves as a Judge for the
Sokaogon Chippewa
Community
located in Wisconsin.