Indigenous Law and Policy for Tribal Officials

Through a series of 50-minute sessions over two and a half days, attendees will learn about –

• Origins of tribal sovereignty, inherent rights of self-determination, and the relevance of treaties
• Federal Indian law fundamentals, including civil and criminal jurisdiction
• Defining Indian Country land status and #NDNLandBack efforts
• Taxation and tax status of tribal entities and tribal benefits
• Tribal business development, including business organization and tribal corporations
• Tribal constitutions and law reform
• Litigating breach of trust claims against the Federal government
• Tribal environmental protection and regulation
• Federal government relations advocacy and lobbying to promote tribal interests

Workshop presenters have a wide variety of experiences in tribal law, governance and business, as well as federal government advocacy, and will rely upon both traditional legal materials, current events, and analysis drawn from actual experience to illustrate relevant concepts. The format is interactive with opportunities to address questions, network with other participants and engage in discussions.

The Seminar host is Robert Odawi Porter, a former President of the Seneca Nation of Indians, and a Visiting Professor at Cornell Law School. Joining this year as featured presenters are attorneys from Lippes Mathias LLP, led by Bryan Shade, a former staff solicitor at the Department of Interior and Carol Heckman, a former federal magistrate judge and experienced litigator on behalf of Tribal governments. Also presenting is Todd Bertoson of the Capitol Hill Policy Group, a former Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.

The workshop is designed for elected and appointed officials of federally-recognized American Indian nations and tribes, particularly those who are newly elected or appointed to office.

The cost to attend the Seminar is $1,500 per person. For registrations of three persons or more from a particular tribe, the cost is $1,250 per person. Registration is limited to 25 students.

Discounted lodging is available at the expense of attendees until January 18, 2026. A room block had been secured for the seminar at a rate of $279 per night. To make a reservation within the room block please contact:

Group Booking Link :

https://reservations.travelclick.com/75936?groupID=5004258

In-person:

Call the Wild Horse Pass reservation department at (520) 796-4900, and ask for the special group rate for "Indian Law & Policy for Tribal Officials".

For more information about the workshop, please contact Amy Titus at [email protected].

For more information about Odawi Law PLLC, please see the Firm website at www.odawilawpllc.com and for more information about the Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC, see www.capitolhillpolicygroup.com.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

8:30-9:00am ET Registration, Light Breakfast, and Welcoming Remarks

9:00-9:50am ET Session 1: Tribal Sovereignty and its Relationship with with American Law

Robert Odawi Porter

10-10:50am Session 2: Indian Law Fundamentals, including Scope of Tribal Jurisdiction

Robert Odawi Porter

11-11:50am Session 3: Civil Jurisdiction in Indian Country

Bryan Shade

12:00-1:00pm Lunch (on your own)

1:00-1:50pm Session 4: Federal and State Taxing Authority in Indian Country

Robert Odawi Porter

2:00-250pm Session 5: Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country

Carol Heckman

3:00-350p Session 6: Federal Government Legislative and Administrative Structure

Bryan Shade & Todd Bertoson

4:00-450p Session 7: Session 6: Federal Government Relations, Lobbying, and Political Engagement, Part 1 (Process)

Todd Bertoson

5p Reception

6p Dinner (on your own)

Thursday, February 19, 2026

9:00-9:50am Session 8: Tribal Constitutions and Government Reform

Robert Odawi Porter

10:00-1050am Session 9: Elements of Federal Court Litigation

Carol Heckman & Bryan Shade

11:00-1150am Session 10: Breach of Trust Actions against the Federal Government

Carol Heckman & Bryan Shade

12p Lunch (on your own)

1:00-150p Session 11: Federal Government Relations, Lobbying, and Political Engagement

Todd Bertoson & Robert Odawi Porter

2:00-250p Session 12: Tribal Lands Issues, including Fee-to-Trust, Leasing, and Restricted Fee Lands Legislation

Robert Odawi Porter & Bryan Shade

3:00-350p Session 13: Tribal Environmental Protection and Regulation

Ian Shavitz

4:00-450p Session 14: Executive Branch Policy Opportunities

Robert Odawi Porter, Todd Bertoson, & Bryan Shade

5p Dinner (on your own)

Friday, February 20, 2026

9:00-950p Session 15: Current Issues in Tribal Economic and Tax Reform Policy Reform

Robert Odawi Porter

10:00-1050p Session 16: Federal Coverage of Tribal Operating Expenses under the Section 105(l) Program

Bryan Shade

11:00-1150p Session 17: Congressional and Administrative Outlook for 2026

Todd Bertoson & Robert Odawi Porter

12p Closing Remarks

Robert Odawi Porter, Esq. (Seneca) is the Seminar host and moderator. He is a nationally-recognized advocate for the protection and expansion of American Indian tribal government sovereignty and treaty rights. His unique background includes service as a former elected president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, tribal attorney general, and founding chairman of Seneca Holdings LLC. He has served as a tenured professor of Indian law at three national universities, which provides him with unparalleled experience platform to assist his tribal clients in seizing opportunities and resolving complex issues at the intersection of law, politics, business, and social policy.

Rob has achieved many successes for his tribal clients, including leading the successful effort in Congress to end taxation of tribal general welfare benefits, expanding tribal gaming rights, and protecting tribal sovereignty and treaty rights from interference by outside governments and interests. He has been named by Best Lawyers in America to its list for Native American law since 2018.

Rob is the President and Founder of Odawi Law PLLC (www.odawilawpllc.com) and the Co-Managing Principal of the Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC (www.capitolhillpolicygroup.com), which he formed in 2018 with his colleague Todd Bertoson to create a new opportunity for federal government advocacy on behalf of American Indian nations and Native-owned companies.

Todd Bertoson is the Co-Managing Principal of the Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC and a former Staff Director of the United States Senate Commerce Committee. His federal relations practice focuses on representing clients with interests in natural resources and fisheries, telecommunications, infrastructure development. His clients include several sovereign Indian nations and a regional Alaska Native Corporation. Todd has been involved in numerous successful efforts to protect client interests and secure federal assistance.

Bryan Shade, Esq. (Keetoowah Cherokee) is an Associate in the Indian Law Practice Group of Lippes Matthias LLP.

Carol Heckman, Esq. is a former Federal Magistrate Judge and Co-chair of the Indian Law Practice Group of Lippes Matthias LLP.

Ian Shavitz, Esq. is an environmental law expert and partner at Lippes Mathias LLP.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App