National Indian Law Library

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 3/25/2026

2026-03-25T12:46:00.002-06:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One application for injunction was denied 3/19/26:

Lopez v. United States (25A1008) (religious freedom)

Two petitions for certiorari were denied 3/23/26:

Chinook Indian Nation v. Burgum (25-313) (federal recognition)
Jacobs v. Oregon Department of Human Services (25-6586) (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

Federal Courts Bulletin

Gardner, et al. v. Ute Tribal Court of the Uintah and Ouray, et al. (criminal jurisdiction; Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA))
Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah v. State of Utah, et al. (Tribal property; jurisdiction - Indian Country)
Hamilton v. Sharp (criminal jurisdiction - Tribal membership)
Villebrun v. Nienaber (Tribal sovereign immunity - Section 1983)
Shade v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. (Tribal property; Administrative Procedure Act (APA))
Porrazzo v. State of Nevada, et al. (trust breach - standing)
Ormat Nevada Inc. v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. (religious practices; resource management)

State Courts Bulletin

Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority v. Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP (Tribal sovereign immunity)
In re L. A. Ledee, Minor. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA); federal recognition)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.4179 - A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require that equitable distribution of assistance include equitable distribution to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and for other purposes.
H.R.8048 - To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require that equitable distribution of assistance include equitable distribution to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and for other purposes.
S.Res.650 - A resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Alaska Native Claims Selection (Interior)
Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects (Interior)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Oh Deer: The Elk court’s misunderstanding of the Citizenship Clause.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Chinook Indian Nation denied recognition in Supreme Court case, vows to ‘continue fight’
Oklahoma Supreme Court weighs in on Tribal hunting, fishing rights dispute
Last hope to save Apache sacred site Oak Flat fizzles out at Supreme Court
Maine Gov. Mills, Wabanaki Nations shelve sovereignty overhaul in compromise measures
Native American Rights Fund on the SAVE America Act

Announcements

The Indian Law Bulletins are taking a short break - we will be back in your inbox on Wednesday, April 8.
The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 3/18/2026

2026-03-18T13:24:00.000-06:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One application for injunction was filed 3/14/26:

Lopez v. United States (25A1008) (religious freedom)

Federal Courts Bulletin

Perank v. United States (sovereign immunity - discretionary function; water rights)
Kozlowicz-Gardner v. Ute Tribal Council Members (Tribal sovereign immunity)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. City of Tulsa, et al. (criminal jurisdiction; law enforcement jurisdiction)
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, et al. v. United States Forest Service, et al. (cultural property; Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act)
In re Ex Parte Search Warrant Application in the Matter of:
Environmental Protection Agency Administrative Inspection on Ute Tribal Land (Tribal property - access permit; Clean Air Act)
Peterson v. Harrah's NC Casino Company, LLC, et al. (civil jurisdiction - necessary party)
Alegre, et al. v. United States of America, et al. (Tribal membership)
Wahpekeche v. Pettigrew (reservation diminishment; criminal jurisdiction)
Myers v. The Tulalip Tribes (Tribal jurisdiction - exhaustion; Indian Civil Rights Act)

State Courts Bulletin

Matter of L.K. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))
Matter of S.A.N. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))
State v. Winckler (jurisdiction)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.4053 - A bill to take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.
H.R.7954 - To assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves (Interior)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Federal gatekeeping and hollow sovereignty: A historical statutory analysis of Tribal access to legal representation.
The need for special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over drug crimes.
Pursuing restorative justice for the legacy of federal Indian boarding schools.
Rivers of sovereignty: The EPA’s new water quality standards rule as a potential channel for revitalizing Tribal reserved water rights.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

US transfers sacred Oak Flat site to Resolution Copper, dealing blow to Tribal opponents
Apache women seek court intervention as federal land is turned over for copper mining
Minnesota’s highest court rejects latest challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act
As violent crimes spike on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, support from the federal government is lacking
Native Americans could be among the hardest hit by SAVE America Act

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 3/11/2026

2026-03-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 3/3/26:

United States v. Hopson (25-1039) (Major Crimes Act (MCA))

Federal Courts Bulletin

Farrer v. Cornpeach (civil jurisdiction; law enforcement jurisdiction)
Torongo, et al. v. United States Department of Interior, Secretary of, et al. (Antiquities Act; cultural property)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3994 - A bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to authorize Tribal meat inspection under that Act by Tribal personnel, and for other purposes.
S.4014 - A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Nisqually Indian Tribe the Clear Creek Hatchery infrastructure, and for other purposes.
H.Res.1089 - Expressing support for the designation of February 2026 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "'Olelo Hawai'i Month".

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Amendment of Notice of Funds Availability for Native American CDFI Assistance Program; Revised Application Submission Deadline (Treasury)
Notice of Deadline for Submitting Completed Requests To Begin Participation in the Tribal Self-Governance Program in Fiscal Year 2027 or Calendar Year 2027 (Interior)
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2026 Pacific Whiting Harvest Specifications, 2026 Tribal Allocation, and 2026 Incidental Set-Aside (Commerce)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Filling the Tribal court attorney need through Tribes licensing their own attorneys.
Fractionation by design: Remedy without repair in Indigenous-owned trust allotments.
"In keeping with the constitution's original design": History and tradition in federal Indian law.
Indigenous water governance and the Clean Water Act.
A seat at the table: How Texas v. New Mexico provides Tribes a potential route to assert outstanding water rights claims in water compact disputes.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Michigan Supreme Court to hear Line 5 cases
Seattle spent years misleading the public about Skagit River salmon. Now it will pay $1 billion for fish passage
Chuckwalla National Monument’s defenders rally to save it
Utah lawmakers ask Congress to undo Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan
How Montana Tribes are using sovereignty to restore their waterways

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 3/4/2026

2026-03-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

United States v. Wilkinson (criminal jurisdiction; Tribal consultation)
National Wildlife Federation, et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, et al. (resource management - water rights; fishing rights)
Osage Nation v. Wood, et al. (taxation - McGirt v. Oklahoma)
United States v. Brice, et al. (federal criminal jurisdiction)
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation v. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. and Enbridge Energy, L.P. (resource management; Tribal property - trespass)
Mathias v. Baldwin (Tribal jurisdiction; custodial agreements)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Fort Peck Tribes v. Jennifer Jones (Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA); Tribal law)
Fort Peck Tribes v. Douglas Grandchamp (Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA); Tribal law)
Fort Peck Tribes v. Holly Toavs (Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA); Tribal law)
Fort Peck Tribes v. Harold Ralph Hamilton (Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA); Tribal law)

State Courts Bulletin

Matter of K.S. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3945 - A bill to ensure that Federal laws that enable Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to access firearms apply equally to Tribal law enforcement agencies.
S.3946 - A bill to allow members of federally recognized Tribes to use their Tribal government identification documents in obtaining a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
H.R.7698 - To allow members of federally recognized Tribes to use their Tribal government identification documents in obtaining a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
H.R.7699 - To ensure that Federal laws that enable Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to access firearms apply equally to Tribal law enforcement agencies.
H.R.7705 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat Indian Tribal Governments in the same manner as State governments for certain Federal tax purposes, and for other purposes.
H.R.7710 - To amend title 10, United States Code, to include Indian tribes in the defense community infrastructure program, and for other purposes.
H.R.7781 - To provide that employees of tribally controlled schools are eligible to receive a pension under the Federal Employees Retirement System and to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for other purposes.
S.Res.625 - A resolution designating February 2026 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "Olelo Hawai'i Month".

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

New Mexico and Oklahoma Statewide Tribal Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit Proposal (EPA)
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Next Steps for Tribal TANF Research and Data (New Collection) (HHS)
Alaska Native Claims Selection (Interior)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Breaking the cycle: New ideas to solve old problems in Colorado River Tribal water access.
Correcting Nevada v. Hicks: Recognizing Tribal courts as courts of general subject-matter jurisdiction.
An equitable high: Indigenous People must have a seat at the table for the future business of psychedelics, how affirmative patent rights can ensure Indigenous inclusion.
Healing East Hawai‘i: The broken promise of Act 117 and the transformative potential of the pu‘uhonua.
Indians and citizenship: Territorial birth & parental status in contemporaneous caselaw.
Reproducing citizenship.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Interior Department fights to dismiss Oklahoma Tribe's Indian boarding school lawsuit
Trump fast-tracked permitting a Utah uranium mine in record 11 days. Tribes call it a rubber stamp
Judge orders protective measures for Columbia River salmon after Trump canceled historic deal
Fort Belknap sues U.S. government over Tribal law enforcement funding
Tribal voting advocates cite harms in federal election bill

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 2/25/2026

2026-02-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 2/17/26:

Flying T Ranch, Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians (25-987) (Tribal sovereign immunity)

Two petitions for certiorari were denied 2/23/26:

Flintco LLC v Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (25-764) (Federal Arbitration Act (FAA))
Martorello v. Williams (25-829) (Tribal sovereign lending)

Federal Courts Bulletin

Black Bear v. Wickre, et al. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

State Courts Bulletin

Town of Bear Creek v. Cannabis Regulatory Agency (Tribal jurisdiction)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.7627 - To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to include Indian Tribes in certain provisions relating to priority resource concerns.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Indian Energy Service Center; Receipt of Tribal Energy Resource Agreement for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado (Interior)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Disinterment under NAGPRA: Justice for Native American boarding school children.
Ensuring sovereignty in healthcare: A comparison of Tribal healthcare compacts and Medicaid.
Let them be Tribal members: Exempting nonmember resident Indians from state taxes.
Rule 19 and Tribal representation in Indian gaming litigation.
Tribal sovereignty, sales tax, and states interference: Why tax compacts may be the best way forward.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Oklahoma representative Tom Cole leading bipartisan push to uncover state’s Indian boarding schools history
Inside the fight to save Texas’ Native American studies course
The Supreme Court hears a Line 5 oil pipeline case with high stakes for treaty rights
U.S. report reveals more than 800 employees left Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2025
Bill would give federal marshals authority to help Tribes find missing children

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 2/18/2026

2026-02-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, et al. v. Drummond, et al. (criminal jurisdiction - McGirt v. Oklahoma)
Becker v. Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, et al. (Tribal jurisdiction - Tribal court exhaustion)

State Courts Bulletin

Interest of S.M. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))
Interest of D.G. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))
In the Interest of M.W.-T. and C.W.-T. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3859 - A bill to amend the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993 with respect to future membership in the Catawba Indian Nation.
S.3878 - A bill to establish the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson College as affiliated areas of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
H.R.6777 - Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act / To provide for the establishment of a grazing management program on Federal land in Malheur County, Oregon, and for other purposes.
H.R.7490 - To allow the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in certain Tribal criminal matters, and for other purposes.
H.R.7515 - To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Nisqually Indian Tribe the Clear Creek Hatchery infrastructure.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Alaska Native Claims Selection (Interior)
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment; Initiation of Public Scoping Under the National Environmental Policy Act; Initiation of Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and Notice of Intent To Develop a Section 106 Programmatic Agreement With the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer (EPA)
Clean Air Act Tribal Minor New Source Review Permit Issued to Lupton Plant Property, LLC and Lupton Petroleum Products Inc., for the Lupton Facility (EPA)
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Tribal Budget and Narrative Justification Template (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Bad tenants: Public trust and the constitutional duty to closely re-examine U.S. military presence in Hawai'i.
Cutting the Gordian Knot of civil liability: Cross-deputization agreements as a remedy to jurisdiction and liability concerns for Indian Country in Oklahoma.
A historical review of congressional plenary power and Tribal treaties and the implications following Herrera.
A survivor's tale: How the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma survived the tidal wave collision of McGirt v. Oklahoma.
Unethical business practices plague Native American cultures and economies – solutions to the ineffectiveness of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Judge upholds permits for Enbridge Line 5 reroute around reservation
LandBack advances across the West
Alaska Native Corporations push back as Pentagon targets 8(a) program
Tribal IDs for descendants in the age of Trump’s ICE
DHS Secretary Noem tells Tribes ICE does not target Native Americans

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 2/11/2026

2026-02-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Avoyelles Water Commission v. Ward 3 Avoyelles Waterworks District (Tribal jurisdiction - Tribal court removal)
Cranford, II, et al. v. U. S. Department of the Interior, et al. (Tribal recognition; Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA))
Meilstrup v. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, et al. (Tribal jurisdiction; Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA))
Rockboy v. Charles Mix County, et al. (law enforcement jurisdiction)
Vipond v. DeGroat, et al. (Tribal jurisdiction - Tribal court exhaustion)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Buggy v. Sault Tribe Housing Authority (Tribal law)

State Courts Bulletin

State of Oklahoma v. Jason Martin Lile (jurisdiction; attorney discipline; conflict of interest)
In the Matter of: S.A. and J.P., Youths in Need of Care (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.7396 - Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act / To establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.
S.Res.601 - A resolution designating the week beginning February 2, 2026, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week".
H.Res.1045 - Calling on the Secretary of Education to work with stakeholders to immediately eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and names from State educational institutions, and calling on State educational institutions and national sports franchises to cease the unsanctioned use of such logos, mascots, and names.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Receipt of Documented Petition for Federal Acknowledgment as an American Indian Tribe (Interior)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Applying the Indian Commerce Clause to Indian commerce.
Indigenous nations and international law: Identifying, sources, and applying Indigenous international law.
Indigenous theories of international law: Reimagining the legal frameworks through a decolonial lens.
Native Nations, noncitizens, and the Supremacy Clause.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Gwich’in fight to protect caribou from Alaska oil development
Oregon, Washington and Tribes head back to court after Trump pulls out of deal to recover salmon
Washoe Tribe Completes historic 10,274-acre land return near Lake Tahoe
Fixing one byzantine process would return reservation lands to Tribes and improve landscape health
Feds greenlight $2B renewable energy project on Yakama Nation sacred site

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 2/4/2026

2026-02-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Shinnecock Indian Nation v. Hochul, et al. (Tribal property)
Chase, et al. v. Andeavor Logistics, L.P., et al. (Tribal property; Indian Right-of-Way Act (IRWA))
Round Valley Indian Tribes, et al. v. Kendall, et al. (criminal jurisdiction; Tribal sovereignty)
United States v. Ruiz (criminal jurisdiction; Indian status)

State Courts Bulletin

State of Minnesota v. Thompson (jurisdiction; Public Law 280)
K.J. v. S.A. (Tribal jurisdiction; Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))
Matter of T.A.G. (Tribal jurisdiction; Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3767 - A bill to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, and for other purposes.
S.3769 - A bill to amend the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 to clarify that amounts in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund may be withdrawn by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and for other purposes.
H.R.7325 - To establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes.
H.Res.1033 - Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning February 2, 2026, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week".

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (Interior)
Summit Lake Formula Area Expansion (HUD)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

The cloudy future of Alaska's magnificent public lands.
The Michigan Anishinaabeg.
The Mono Basin Project: Remedying environmental injustice through Tribal beneficial use designations.
Native Nations, public lands, and the Trump 2.0 era.
Public lands and the Supreme Court.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

After scrutiny, Michigan moves to release redacted Native boarding school report
Trump officials ordered removal of history, science signs at national parks, report says
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt calls for limits on Tribal sovereignty, Tribal leaders respond
Court says state cannot prosecute Tribal citizen for cannabis charge on Tribal lands
Attorneys give Tribal citizens guidance on navigating ICE encounters

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 1/28/2026

2026-01-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 12/22/25:

Jacobs v. Oregon Department of Human Services (25-6586) (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

Federal Courts Bulletin

Rousseau v. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, et al. (Tribal sovereign immunity; Tribal jurisdiction)
McClure v. Futrell (Tribal jurisdiction)
Damron v. Pierce (Tribal jurisdiction)

State Courts Bulletin

Oenga v. Givens (trust breach)
In the Matter of the Minnesota Racing Commission's Approval of Running Aces Casino (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.7269 - To amend the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989 to clarify that amounts in the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Trust Fund may be withdrawn by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and for other purposes.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Fraser River Panel Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Orders (Commerce)
Reimbursement Rates for Calendar Year 2026 (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Fletcher's uncertainty principle.
Fractionation by design: Remedy without repair in Indigenous-owned trust allotments.
Gorsuch’s dissent and the current state of Navajo water rights claims.
The new existentialism in Indian law.
The three phases of the Tribal self-determination era and the phase out of federal paternalism.
Tribal co-management on ceded lands: A new era?
Tribes as nations: The future of the trust relationship.
The unenforceable Indian trust.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Michigan spent $1.1M probing Tribal boarding schools, then buried the results
Long Island school district must reinstate Native American mascot or face funding cuts, Trump administration says
Tribes and environmental groups sound alarm about fate of one of Utah’s national monuments, Grand Staircase-Escalante
Lumbee Tribe buys land off I-95 for possible casino
The Pentagon is reviewing a program that helps Alaska Native corporations get federal contracts

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 1/21/2026

2026-01-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 1/9/26:

Martorello v. Williams (25-829) (Tribal sovereign lending)

Federal Courts Bulletin

United States, et al. v. Ballard (Indian Country; criminal jurisdiction)
United States, et al. v. Iski (Indian Country; criminal jurisdiction)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Waddle (Tribal law - sentencing)
Peevyhouse v. Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Tribal law - refiling charges)
In re the disenrollment appeal of Selvidge-Brownfield (disenrollment)

State Courts Bulletin

In re Bella L. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.7065 - Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act / To nullify the applicability of the Act of July 2, 1948, with respect to the reservations of the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York.
S.Res.585 - A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Filing of Survey Plats: Alaska (Interior)
Tribal General Welfare Benefits; Correction (Treasury)
Updating the Water Quality Certification Regulations (EPA)
Tribal Consultation on Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Advancing the rights of nature: Lessons from Sauk-Suiattle v. City of Seattle.
Beyond ICWA: Within family court systems, mixed Indigenous families confront ongoing jurisdictional violence.
Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The corpus juris of (Alaska Native) inherent Tribal sovereignty.
Expansion of federal benefits to non-Native adopted children.
Indigenous law is real law: Ending erasure through legal reform and recognition.
Legal history: The curious case of the disappearing unceded Lakota territories.
Moving forward from Brackeen and solutions for the greater efficacy of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Native history is United States history: How United States history censorship leads to passive acceptance of racial discrimination and furthers the decline of Tribal sovereignty.
The Tribal rules of evidence.
U.N.masking American exceptionalism: How international frameworks can inform American Indian policy.
Workers’ compensation codes in American Indian* Tribal Nations.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Wisconsin Tribes oppose ending protections for roadless areas on national forests
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected State of Alaska's bid to reopen subsistence debate, what's next?
Lawsuit between MHA Nation, North Dakota over mineral rights headed for trial
Native American designation now available on Arizona driver licenses and IDs
NARF condemns ICE actions, says Native Americans unlawfully detained

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 1/14/2026

2026-01-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

Two petitions for certiorari were denied 1/12/26:

Alaska v. United States (25-320) (fishing regulation under Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act)
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Michigan (25-165) (treaty fishing rights)

Federal Courts Bulletin

United States v. Ruiz (Indian status)
Amboh v. Haney, et al. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); firm-waiver rule)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Tarabochia v. Quinault Indian Nation (disenrollment)
Emery v. Sault Tribe Housing Authority (Tribal law)

State Courts Bulletin

In the Interest of A.H. and K.W. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3617 - A bill to approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Yavapai-Apache Nation in the State of Arizona, to authorize construction of a water project relating to those water rights claims, and for other purposes.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Denial of Presidential Permit for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (Presidential Memorandum)
Tribal Consultation on Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Abandoning the ward: Federal government has no affirmative duty to secure water for Navajo Nation — Arizona v. Navajo Nation, 599 U.S. 555 (2023).
From Winans to Wallahee: Treaties, the Washington State Supreme Court, and the pursuit of a more just rule of law.
Heritage collections and preservation conversation.
Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta’s constitutional mistakes.
Legal obstacles to seating a Cherokee delegate in Congress.
Tangible recommendations to execute California Assembly Bill 3099: A proactive approach to combatting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.
The truth About Midkiff justifies Kelo’s reversal: A response to progress and the taking of Indigenous land by Ezra Rosser.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Muscogee Nation wages its own legal battle against state officials over hunting, fishing rights
Western Apaches return to 9th Circuit to defend holy land
South Dakota Oglala Sioux Tribe demands the release of Lakota men detained by ICE
Montana's Chouteau County moves forward with new district favoring Tribes
EPA proposes limiting power of states and Tribes to block major projects over water concerns

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 1/7/2026

2026-01-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 12/18/25:

Flintco LLC v. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (25-764) (contracts; Federal Arbitration Act (FAA))

Federal Courts Bulletin

Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arika Nation v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al. (Tribal property; water rights)
Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation v. United States (Indian Tucker Act; trust breach; water rights)
Williams v. Lybrand, et al. (Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); Tribal sovereign immunity)
United States of America, et al. v. Abousleman, et al. (water rights)
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, et al.v. Whitmer, et al. (Pipeline Safety Act; resource management)
Legend Lake Property Owners Association Inc. v. Menominee County, et al. (Section 1983; Tribal property; taxation)

State Courts Bulletin

In re K.G. (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Interest of J.C. (Indian Chld Welfare Act)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3573 - A bill to amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act to modify a provision relating to the extension of certain dates for the completion of the Regional Water System, and for other purposes.
H.R.6917 - To take certain land into trust for the benefit of the Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians.

Passed legislation:

H.R.165 - Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act / To direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete all actions necessary for certain land to be held in restricted fee status by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and for other purposes became Public Law No: 119-61 on 12/19/2025.
H.R.410 - Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025 / To extend the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program, and for other purposes became Public Law No: 119-63 on 12/26/2025.
H.R.504 - Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act / To amend the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act to authorize the expansion of the Miccosukee Reserved Area and to carry out activities to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding, and for other purposes vetoed by President on 12/29/2025.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (TIAC) Membership Announcement (HUD)
Approval of Clean Air Act General Permit Requests for Coverage for New Minor Source Gasoline Dispensing Facilities in Indian Country Within California (EPA)
Receipt of Request for Authorization To Re-Petition for Federal Acknowledgment as an American Indian Tribe (Interior)
Receipt of Request for Authorization To Re-Petition for Federal Acknowledgment as an American Indian Tribe (Interior)
Strengthening the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program; Extension of Compliance Date (HUD)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Best practices for employers on Tribal land.
Facilitating the return of human remains: Museum policy case studies across the United States and United Kingdom.
Indian Country supervision.
Investment v. cultural diversity: Reconciling the protection of foreign investments with heritage preservation and Indigenous rights.
Tribal civil procedure: An unexplored path to sovereignty and economic development.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Dakota Access pipeline should continue operating, US Army Corps of Engineers says
Federal judge blocks Michigan Governor Whitmer from shutting down submerged Great Lakes pipeline
Lumbee Tribe becomes 575th federally recognized Tribe
Oklahoma AG's opinion orders wildlife officials to stop ticketing Tribal citizens on reservations
Trump veto stalls effort to expand Miccosukee Tribal lands

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 12/17/2025

2025-12-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

LaBatte v. Gangle, et al. (Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction; Sovereign Authority Over Members and Territories)
McGowan v. Tix, et al. (Tribal Court Jurisdiction; Nonmember Consensual Relationship)
Perez v. City of San Antonio (Religious Freedom; Injunction Pending Appeal)
United States v. Bullhead (Tribal Police; Uncounseled Statement; Tribal Court Advocate)
Bridges, et al. v. Raines, et al. (Tribal Lending; Tribal Law)

State Courts Bulletin

Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians v. North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA))

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3475 - A bill to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.
S.3478 - A bill to assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Tribal General Welfare Benefits (IRS)
Entities Wholly Owned by Indian Tribal Governments (IRS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Risk assessment and recidivism among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Persons: A meta-analysis.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

A top Trump official has financial ties to controversial Nevada lithium project
Tribe considering proposal to make all members 100% Crow blood quantum
Federal court dismisses challenge to NY Indigenous mascot ban
Woman sues state over alleged sexual abuse while in foster care
Tribal ID refused at North Dakota liquor store raises questions about state law

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 12/10/2025

2025-12-10T11:59:00.001-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Jones, et al. v. Turning Stone Enterprises LLC, et al. (Tribal Sovereign Immunity; Employee Benefits)
Portnoy v. Meza, et al. (Tribal Officers; Under Color of Tribal Law)

State Courts Bulletin

Interest of A.D.-B. (Indian Child Welfare Act)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3358 - A bill to assist Indian Tribes in protecting Native American seeds, and for other purposes.
S.3375 - A bill to amend the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Culture and Art Development Act to modify the program for Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and arts development, and for other purposes.
S.3383 - Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025 / A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to make improvements to that Act, and for other purposes.
H.R.6391 - To repeal section 3003 of Public Law 113-291, and for other purposes.
H.R.6415 - To assist Indian Tribes in protecting Native American seeds.

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

More than Morrill: The intertwined history of Indian land dispossession, Arizona statehood, and university enrichment.
The slow genocide of Indigenous Nations and Peoples: Hiding in plain sight.
Trust and treaty obligations for radio astronomy on Native Nations.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Final defense legislation grants federal recognition to Lumbee Tribe
Klamath Tribes seek to reverse judge’s removal in water rights case
Legislation will protect wildlife, Indigenous sites, water resources at Oak Flat
“Our sovereignty is not optional”: Tulalip responds to ICE actions
Proposed new WOTUS definitions and impacts on Tribes

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 12/3/2025

2025-12-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Village of Hobart, Wisconsin v. United States Department of The Interior, et al. (Fee to Trust; Administrative Procedure Act (APA))

State Courts Bulletin

Columbia Riverkeeper v. Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (Fishing Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.6206 - To protect the confidentiality of culturally sensitive information.
H.R.6343 - To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend education grant programs for Alaska Native serving institutions and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and for other purposes.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF) Threshold (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

A comparison of inadequate doctrines: The Canadian “honour of the Crown” and the U.S. federal trust responsibility.
“My museum’s reluctant undertakers”: Repatriation after the 2023 NAGPRA rule.
Re-imagine paradise: The impacts of the illegal annexation of Hawai'i & tourism on Native Hawaiians.
West Flagler and the future of sports betting: Navigating Tribal sovereignty and the need for consumer protection in a growing market.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Oklahoma asks SCOTUS to ignore Muscogee citizen tax dispute or 'revisit McGirt' ruling
Leger Fernández introduces bill to protect sacred Tribal sites, cultural items, & practices from public disclosure
Hawaiʻi Island chosen to host prestigious international Indigenous conference in 2028
Indigenous actor Elaine Miles says ICE called her Tribal ID ‘fake’
‘An honor and such a blessing’: People come together to mourn and learn from beached whale in Oregon

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 11/26/2025

2025-11-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Pueblo of San Felipe v. Haaland, et al. (File Amended Complaint; Resurvey of Property Boundary: Disputed Land)
Pueblo of San Felipe v. Haaland, et al. (Disputed Land; Intervention)
Mundo v. Vandever and Navajo Family Court (Child Custody; State-Tribal Jurisdictional Conflict; Exhaustion of Tribal Remedies)

State Courts Bulletin

People of the State of Michigan v. Walter Joseph Caswell (Fishing Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3219 - A bill to transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
S.3236 - A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to ensure Tribal consultation and representation under the food distribution program on Indian reservations, and for other purposes.
S.3242 - A bill to amend the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to facilitate implementation of the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, and for other purposes.
H.R.6162 - To transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
H.R.6205 - To amend the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to facilitate implementation of the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, and for other purposes.
H.R.6285 - To amend the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Culture and Art Development Act.
H.Res.911 - Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Finding of Failure To Attain and Reclassification of Tribal Portions of the Greater Connecticut Ozone Nonattainment Area as Serious for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (EPA)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Indigenous children and environmental racism.
Unfulfilled obligations: Realizing the promise of Tribal sovereignty.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Tribal leaders say Trump administration failed to consult with them on Education Department changes
Whitmer asks U.S. Supreme Court to weigh state immunity in Line 5 case
Oklahoma wildlife officials ask Drummond to butt out of pending cases amid Tribal hunting conflict
10,000 acres north of Lake Tahoe to be returned to California Tribe in historic land deal
Northern California Tribe and Humboldt County settle lawsuit over extended foster care

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 11/19/2025

2025-11-19T14:38:00.003-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

United States v. Hebert (Indian Status; Criminal Jurisdiction)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Henryetta, City of (State Authority in Indian Country; McGirt v. Oklahoma)
Mazur v. Garrison, et al. (Tribal Identification; Tribal Registration Plate)
Hokanson v. Juarez, et al. (Vexatious Litigant)
Native American Guardian's Association, et al. v. New York State Board of Regents, et al. (Indian Sports Mascots; Lack of Standing)
Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. v. United States (Breach of Trust; Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Kayden Midas Lambert v. Fort Peck Tribes (Tribal Law)
Fort Peck Tribes v. Longtree (Tribal Law)

State Courts Bulletin

In re C.L. et al. (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Orutsararmiut Native Council v. Boyle (Resource Management; Water Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.6067 - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to add access to telecommunications and information services in Indian country and areas with high populations of Indian people to the universal service principle relating to access to such services in rural, insular, and high cost areas.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Rescinding Regulations Regarding Management Systems Pertaining to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Reservation Roads Program (DOT)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Child-taking justice and the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
Corporeal property and the limits of NAGPRA.
The other taxation: Tribes, territories, and fiscal autonomy.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Tribes file federal suit over state prosecution of hunting, fishing on Tribal land
Civil War general becomes first Native American posthumously admitted as a lawyer in the US
California State University launches system-wide Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act policy
Trump wants to renew hydropower project permitting on reservations without Tribal consent
The DOJ took down a report on Indigenous People — mandated by a law Trump signed — to comply with an anti-DEI order

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 11/12/2025

2025-11-12T12:26:00.001-07:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Blue Lake Rancheria, et al. v. Kalshi Inc., et al. (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA); Event Contracts)
Metlakatla Indian Community v. Dunleavy, et al. (Fishing Rights; Rule 19; Tribal Sovereign Interests)
State of California ex rel. Bonta v. Del Rosa, et al. (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (PACT Act); Tribal Sovereign Immunity)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation v. Kunzweiler (Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction; Preliminary Injunction)
Boyd v. United States, et al. (Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA); Tribal Sovereign Immunity)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Tarabochia v. Quinault Indian Nation (Disenrollment; Tribal Membership)

State Courts Bulletin

In re the Termination of Parental Rights to L.J.L. (Indian Child Welfare Act)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.5935 - Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act / To approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe argues against pipeline lawsuit dismissal in latest DAPL filing
The remains and stories of Native American students are being reclaimed from a Pennsylvania cemetery
Lumbee recognition debate rekindled in Senate hearing
In Maine prisons, Native American sweat lodges are part of the program
Gorsuch, Thomas want to ‘correct’ 139-year-old Supreme Court ruling

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 11/5/2025

2025-11-05T12:38:00.001-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

The Tribal Supreme Court Project published an Update Memorandum on October 31, 2025.

Federal Courts Bulletin

Cayuga Nation, et al. v. Parker, et al. (Economic Development; Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO))
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, et al. v. Burgum, et al. (Land Into Trust; Indian Gaming)
Farden v. United States (Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA); False Arrest)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.2916 - To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.
H.R.5910 - To authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian Tribes.
S.Res.475 - A resolution designating November 1, 2025, as "National Bison Day".

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Another broken promise: The MMIWG2S crisis and the violation of the federal Indian trust obligation.
Blowing in the wrong direction? United States v. Osage Wind, LLC.
Cross-border law enforcement after McGirt and Castro-Huerta.
The Indian Child Welfare Act.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act as a model of cultural sovereignty for protecting Indigenous sacred sites.
The status of Texas Indigenous groups.
#TaxBack? Prohibiting state real property taxes on land in Indian Country.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Franciscan Sisters transfer land to Lac du Flambeau Tribe in bid to repair boarding school legacy
Native Alaska villages were already on the front lines of climate change. Then a typhoon hit.
Army Corps approves Enbridge pipeline reroute around Wisconsin reservation
Oklahoma AG vows to protect Tribal Nations' rights to hunting, fishing
Tule River Indian Tribe of California reclaims 17,030 acres and reintroduces tule elk on ancestral land

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 10/29/2025

2025-10-29T12:21:00.001-06:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Parrotta v. Island Resort and Casino (Tribal Sovereign Immunity; Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA))
United States of America, et al. v. ACF Industries, et al. (Natural Resource Damages; Settlement Agreement)
Cortina Integrated Waste Mgt. Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, et al. (Administrative Procedure Act (APA); Lease Termination)
Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial, Inc. v. Montileaux (Tribal Court Jurisdiction; Removal to Federal Court; Indispensable Party)

State Courts Bulletin

State v. Mankiller (Treaty Hunting Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.3041 - A bill to allow the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in certain Tribal criminal matters, and for other purposes.
H.R.5820 - Mono Lake Kootzaduka’a Tribe Recognition Act / To extend Federal recognition to the Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Tribe, and for other purposes.
H.R.5824 - Tribal Affordable Housing Act / To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to Indian Tribes and Tribally designated housing entities for the purposes of providing affordable housing and the maintenance or construction of residential dwelling units for Tribes.
H.R.5825 - Tribal Housing Innovation Act / To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a program that awards grants to Indian Tribes and Tribally designated housing entities for residential dwelling units with sustainable features, and for other purposes.
H.R.5869 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to assistance for Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Collateral consequences of conviction and restoration of rights in Tribal law.
Sovereign solutions: Reclaiming reproductive autonomy in Oklahoma Indian Country after Dobbs.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

‘The Rushmore story is hard to tell’: how an Indigenous park leader revealed the monument’s dark side
Judge tosses Tribal lawsuit over online sports betting
WA governor moves to improve state consultation with Tribes
Government shutdown highlights need to reform how federal funds support Native American Tribes, Brookings report says
'I'm still here' | Amid highest domestic violence rates, Native women need culturally centered resources

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 10/22/2025

2025-10-22T12:15:00.000-06:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Rourke-Rodriguez and Swamp v. United States Department of Education, et al. (Administrative Procedure Act (APA); Jay Treaty; Higher Education Act)
Winnemucca Indian Colony v. United States (Trust Relationship)
California v. Del Rosa, et al. (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act (PACT Act); Sanctions)

State Courts Bulletin

In re K.F., T.F., and P.H., Minors (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Bertrand v. State (Criminal Jurisdiction; Tribal Membership)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Citizenship and empire in Elk v. Wilkins.
Stolen streams: Tribal water rights and judicial takings.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Great Lakes Tribes file brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Line 5 Straits of Mackinac case
For the first time in its history, St. Croix Chippewa release sturgeon
Pennsylvania lawmaker pushes to ban Native American mascots in public schools
Five Tribes announce the formation of a New Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission
SCOTUS hears arguments in pivotal challenge to Voting Rights Act

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 10/15/2025

2025-10-15T12:51:00.000-06:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Meilstrup v. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, et al. (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); Tribal Sovereign Immunity)

State Courts Bulletin

In re Claudia R. (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Flying T Ranch, Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians (Tribal Sovereign Immunity)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.5739 - To prohibit Federal funds from being provided to any State or local government that celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day, and for other purposes.
H.R.5757 - To provide appropriations for certain tribal programs during a period of a lapse in discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.
S.Res.450 - A resolution expressing support for the designation of the second Monday in October 2025 as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to celebrate and honor Indigenous Peoples and their shared history and culture.
H.Res.794 - Recognizing the week of September 30th as "National Orange Shirt Week" or "National Week of Remembrance", which aims to honor those who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools, and to recognize the experience of Indian boarding school victims and survivors.
H.Res.809 - Expressing support for the designation of the second Monday in October 2025 as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to celebrate and honor Indigenous Peoples and their shared history and culture.

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Diluting the defense of property: Flawed decision in Navajo Nation v. Urban Outfitters emphasizes need for new standard in the federal circuit.
The exception, not the rule: Using the corporate duty of loyalty to protect Alaska Native subsistence.
New originalism and the Indian canon of construction in "bad men" clause jurisprudence.
Regulatory takings on the reservation: Energy development on Tribal land and the mismanagement of the permitting process.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

‘It’s no longer being covered up and denied’: Discovering Oregon’s hidden Native American boarding school history
Sioux descendants file lawsuit against U.S. for federal recognition, monetary damages over land
For Tribal governments, AI holds unique promise and risks
The quest to restore what was lost for Indigenous People in Colorado
Menominee County property owners argue land can’t be transferred to Tribal trust

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 10/8/2025

2025-10-08T12:40:00.003-06:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed 9/29/25:

Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission (25-382) (State Taxation in Indian Country)

Three petitions for certiorari were denied 10/6/25:

RunItOneTime LLC (fka Maverick Gaming LLC) v. United States (24-1161) (Rule 19 and Administrative Procedure Act (APA))
Stitt v. City of Tulsa (25-30) (State Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country)
Unkechaug Indian Nation v. Lefton (24-1240) (Daubert Issues; Treaty Claims)

One petition for rehearing was denied 10/6/25:

Apache Stronghold v. United States (24-291) (Religious Freedom)

Federal Courts Bulletin

Modoc Nation, et al. v. Shah, et al. (Tribal Sovereign Immunity; Official Immunity)
Silva, et al. v. Farrish, et al. (Aboriginal Rights to Fish; Regulatory Purpose)
Benally, et al. v. United States Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (Equal Access to Justice Act; Attorney’s Fees; Tribal Legal Services)
Koenig v. Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, et al. (Tribal Sovereign Immunity; Arm of the Tribe; Official Capacity)

State Courts Bulletin

Morris v. Board of Bar Examiners (Tribal Sovereignty)
Kia‘i Wai O Wai‘ale‘ale v. Board of Land and Natural Resources (Native Hawaiian Traditional and Customary Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.5682 - To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.
H.R.5694 - ARTIST Act / Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition Act / To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to protect the cultural practices and livelihoods of producers of Alaska Native handicrafts and marine mammal ivory products, and for other purposes.
H.R.5696 - To improve Tribal self-governance by streamlining appraisals for on-reservation trust land acquisitions by Indian Tribes with self-governance realty programs.
H.Res.787 - Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "Hawaiian History Month" to recognize the history, culture and contributions of Native Hawaiians and reaffirm the United States Federal trust responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community to support their well-being.

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

The Antiquities Act: A case of nominative determinism?
From one stolen generation to another: Replicating Trevorrow in American courts.
Judicial relief isn’t enough: How federal protection of Native American cultural landscapes limit religious freedoms.
The unconstitutional impact of anti-transgender legislation on Native Hawaiians.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Indigenous environmental advocates say data centers risk water, culture and informed consent
Supreme Court declines to hear Native American fight to save sacred site threatened by copper mine
Tribes hail U.S. Supreme Court dismissal of Maverick Gaming’s lawsuit attacking sovereignty
Indigenous Nations plan a tariff-free trade corridor across the US-Canada border
How the federal shutdown impacts Indian Country

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 10/1/2025

2025-10-01T12:36:00.000-06:00

Federal Courts Bulletin

Barrick v. Board of County Commissioners of McCurtain County, Oklahoma, et al. (Section 1983; Wrongful Death; Tribal Authority)
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Tribal Contract; Healthcare; Fiduciary Duties)
Darden v. Vines, et al. (Tribal Sovereign Immunity)
Tanner-Brown v. Burgum, et al. (Freedmen; Trust or Fiduciary Duties)
Portnoy v. Meza, et al. (Tribal Regulatory Agency; Tribal Sovereign Immunity)

Tribal Courts Bulletin

Alyssa Louise Roseman v. Zachary Quinn Roseman (Tribal Law)

State Courts Bulletin

In re A.M. (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Matter of S. H. A. (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Betsy F. v. Department of Family & Community Services (Indian Child Welfare Act)
Commonwealth v. One (1) Check in the Amount of $480.00 for 1,600 Pieces of Wild Oysters (Fishing Rights)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

H.R.5392 - Northern Arizona Protection Act / To nullify Presidential Proclamation 10606, establishing Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and withdrawing certain land in Arizona from mineral entry, and for other purposes.
S.Res.419 - A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "Hawaiian History Month" to recognize the history, culture and contributions of Native Hawaiians and reaffirm the United States Federal trust responsibility to the Native Hawaiian Community to support their well-being.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Receipt of Documented Petition for Federal Acknowledgment as an American Indian Tribe (Interior)
Receipt of Documented Petition for Federal Acknowledgment as an American Indian Tribe (Interior)
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; American Indian and Alaska Natives Facility Condition, Location, and Ownership Survey (HHS)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Achieving public safety within transboundary Tribes: Challenges and paths forward.
The “categorical approach” that often hinders application of the Habitual Offender Statute, 18 U.S.C. § 117, to violations of Tribal law.
The Department of Justice’s role in addressing the incidence of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons.
Indigenous reconciliation and development.
The Tribal warrants loophole: The Washington solution.
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and the return of Tribal criminal authority in Alaska.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Orange Shirt Day marks legacy of Indigenous boarding schools
Ojibwe have been trying to regain land taken in mid-1800s. Slowly, they've had success.
Tule River Tribe sponsors bill for students to have right to wear regalia
In Alaska, a graphite mine races toward approval without the required Tribal consent
Federal government awards $15 million to support first culturally-centered domestic violence hotline for Native Americans

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.

Indian Law Bulletins Updated 9/24/2025

2025-09-24T11:52:00.000-06:00

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin

One petition for certiorari was filed on 9/15/2025:

Alaska v. United States (25-320) (Fishing Regulation; Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act)

One petition for certiorari was filed on 9/12/2025:

Chinook Indian Nation v. Burgum (25-313) (Federal Recognition)

Federal Courts Bulletin

Walden v. The City of Duncan, Oklahoma, et al. (Section 1983; Under Color of Tribal Law)
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al. v. Mundahl, et al. (Tribal Court Jurisdiction; Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA))
Osage Nation v. United States Department of Interior, et al. (Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA); Sovereign Immunity)

State Courts Bulletin

In re Application of Enbridge Energy to Replace and Relocate Line 5 (Cultural Resources; Michigan Environmental Protection Act)
Akana v. Hawai'i State Ethics Commission (Jurisdiction; Hawai‘i State Ethics Code)

U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin

S.2832 - A bill to establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.
S.2871 - A bill to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe, and for other purposes.
H.R.5488 - To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to extend funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.
H.R.5515 - To amend the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act.

U.S. Regulatory Bulletin

Withdrawal of Notices Inviting Applications (NIA) and Cancellation of the Competitions for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Part A (ANNH Part A), Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Part A (AANAPISI Part A), Strengthening Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Part A (NASNTI Part A) and Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions programs (DHSI) (Education)

Law Review & Bar Journal Bulletin

Collaborative management of Bears Ears National Monument: Perspectives from the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition.
From the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the Paris Agreement: Embedding Indigenous human rights in international environmental governance.
Leveraging the federal trust responsibility to safeguard net neutrality on Tribal lands.

News Bulletin

This week, in brief:

Michigan Supreme Court to hear Line 5 permit appeals
Alaska wants U.S. Supreme Court to hear battle over salmon
North Dakota releases first updated Tribal textbook; more on the way
Native groups file Supreme Court brief supporting rights of incarcerated Indigenous People
Alaska Republicans push for federal study of ranked choice voting

Announcements

The Native American Rights Fund is hiring a Staff Attorney in the Alaska office. Learn more about the vacancy on our website.