-- Practice/Services --Administrative AgenciesAlaska Native MattersBreach of Trust and Government MismanagementBusiness Law, Economic Development and Corporate CounselingChild WelfareConstruction and TransportationElection and Campaign LawEmployment LawEnvironmental LawGamingGeneral CounselHealth LawHousingHunting and Fishing RightsJurisdictional and Tribal Sovereignty IssuesLand ClaimsLegislative and LobbyingLitigation: Trial, Appellate and Supreme CourtNatural Resource DevelopmentSelf-Determination and Self-GovernanceTax LawTribal CodesTrust Land AcquisitionsWater Rights

An important part of our practice is in the area of Indian child welfare. This includes litigation on behalf of tribes to enforce the notice, placement and other protective measures of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). We have also represented tribes and Alaska native organizations in litigation to enforce the ICWA's full faith and credit provisions and intervention provisions, as well as the interplay between the ICWA and Public Law 280. See i.e., Native Vill. of Venetie v. State of Alaska, 944 F.2d 548 (9th Cir. 1991) (representing Amici tribes and organizations in a case holding that the Indian Child Welfare Act and Public Law 280 left intact the inherent authority of Alaska Native tribes to adjudicate child custody and related matters, and entitling those decrees to full faith and credit). Much of the firm's ICWA work also involves daily counseling and litigation avoidance, consistent with the best interests of Native children. Our work on Indian child welfare matters has also included active participation before Congress when legislation is proposed to amend ICWA. Related to this, we have also advised our tribal clients, including tribal health care providers, with regard to compliance with the Indian Family Violence Prevention and Child Protection Act and we were active in the drafting of the Act's implementing regulations and in seeking important technical amendments to that law.