Obama had used the Antiquities Act more than any
other president, his White
House said in December, when he designated over 1.6 million acres
of land in Utah and Nevada as national monuments,
protecting two
areas rich in Native American artifacts from mining, oil and gas drilling.
But we have got to come to some way
of having some assistance, whether it is done in -
house or by a neutral or, I hope not, the court, to
protect that kind
of information, because among
other things, we have said in our country that the court system is less open, in one sense, than the United States because you don't have to file all your discovery transcripts or all the exhibits, and that is how they get to the confidentiality
area easier.
Business Development: Brokering various business dealings that further the diversification
of Indian economies Developing and accessing commercial financial programs and services for tribal governments, including tax - exempt offerings and federally - guaranteed
housing loans Serving as issuer or underwriter's counsel in tribal bond issuances Ensuring tribal compliance with Bank Secrecy Act and
other federal financial regulatory requirements Handling federal and state income, excise, B&O, property and
other tax matters for tribes and tribal businesses Chartering tribal business enterprises under tribal, state and federal law Registering and
protecting tribal trademarks and copyrights Negotiating franchise agreements for restaurants and retail stores on Indian reservations Custom - tailoring construction contracts for tribes and general contractors Helping secure federal SBA 8 (a) and
other contracting preferences for Indian - owned businesses Facilitating contractual relations between tribes and tribal casinos, and gaming vendors Building tribal workers» compensation and self - insurance programs Government Relations: Handling state and federal regulatory matters in the
areas of tribal gaming, environmental and cultural resources, workers» compensation, taxation, health care and education Negotiating tribal - state gaming compacts and fuel and cigarette compacts, and inter-local land use and law enforcement agreements Advocacy before the Washington State Gambling Commission, Washington Indian Gaming Association and National Indian Gaming Commission Preparing tribal codes and regulations, including tribal court, commercial, gaming, taxation, energy development, environmental and cultural resources protection, labor & employment, and workers» compensation laws Developing employee handbooks, manuals and personnel policies Advocacy in
areas of treaty rights, gaming, jurisdiction, taxation, environmental and cultural resource protection Brokering fee - to - trust and related real estate and jurisdictional transactions Litigation & Appellate Services: Handling complex Indian law litigation, including commercial, labor & employment, tax, land use, treaty rights, natural and cultural resource matters Litigating tribal trust mismanagement claims against the United States, and evaluating tribal and individual property claims under the Indian Claims Limitation Act Defending tribes and tribal insureds from tort claims brought against them in tribal, state and federal courts, including defense tenders pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act Assisting tribal insureds in insurance coverage negotiations, and litigation Representing individual tribal members in tribal and state civil and criminal proceedings, including BIA prosecutions and Indian probate proceedings Assisting tribal governments with tribal, state and federal court appeals, including the preparation
of amicus curiae briefs Our Indian law & gaming attorneys collaborate to publish the quarterly «Indian Legal Advisor ``, designed to provide Indian Country valuable information about legal and political developments affecting tribal rights.