Northwest Indian Law & Business Advisor

Recent Posts from Northwest Indian Law & Business Advisor

• Indian Law Remains Vital to Washington State

  The Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors has been asked to consider adopting the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), on shortened time, casting doubt on the future of the current Washington State-specific admissions exam. It…

• FCC Considers Net Neutrality Rules: Tribes Cannot Afford to Remain Neutral

  The free market that is the Internet is a primary universal gateway for commercial transactions, including those in Tribal economies. The Internet provides access to Indian Country patrons and customers and may be the only…

• Dram Shop Actions Threaten Tribal Sovereign Immunity

  Connecticut State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has waged a war against the doctrine of tribal sovereign immunity, and he has chosen politically convenient drunk driving dramshop liability case against the Mohegan Tribe as his battle…

• Congress Considers Indian Energy Development Legislation

  On September 10th, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs published an Indian Energy Concept Paper regarding the future of energy development and efficiency in Indian Country. The Concept Paper identifies three strategic areas of concern:…

• Senate and House Introduce Carcieri Fix Legislation

  In February 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that sent shock waves throughout Indian country, which continue to reverberate. The Court’s Carcieri v. Salazar decision prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from…

• Tribal Law & Order Act to Enhance Criminal Justice in Indian Country

  On April 2nd, Senator Byron Dorgan introduced Sen. 797, known as the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on the legislation on June 25th, and…

• Senator Vows to Strangle Tribal Access to 8(a) Opportunities

  U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill has reinforced her intent to reduce Indian Country’s access to the Small Business Administration 8(a) contracting program by legislating it to death. She proposes language that would severely reduce access to…

• OMB to Expose to the World the Financials of Tribes Receiving Recovery Act Funds

  In February 2009, the U.S. Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The intent of the $2.5 billion allocated to Indian Country through the ARRA was to spur domestic economic growth within…

• Tribal Pledge of Gross Gaming Revenues: a "Management Contract" Subject to NIGC Approval?

  As a means of protecting tribes, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires, among other things, the National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC”) Chairman’s approval of management contracts for the operation and management of Indian gaming operations.…

• NIGC Proposes Gaming Machine Revisions that Could Cost Tribes Millions

  The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) has asked its members to contact the White House in response to the National Indian Gaming Commission’s (NIGC) proposed changes to the gaming machine section of the Minimum Internal…