Please join the West-Northwest Journal of Environmental Law & Policy and Hastings Native American Law Students Association for an important discussion of progress and challenges for environmental justice and green energy development on Native American Lands.

There is no cost for attendance, but please register online. MCLE credit available.

Register.

Keynote presentation by Professor Rebecca Tsosie of Arizona State University Law School.

Panel One - Environmental Justice on Tribal Lands: Exploring conflicts between Native American Sovereignty and the Federal Trust Doctrine
The Federal Trust Doctrine has historically given the Federal Government a fiduciary responsibility for natural resource management and environmental protection on Native American tribal lands. However, Native American tribes are increasingly asserting their sovereignty in the the management of those resources. This panel will address the conflicts between sovereignty and the Federal Trust, and will examine the future of resource management and environmental protection on Native American tribal lands.

Moderator: Caitlin Sislin, Advocacy Director, Women's Earth Alliance

Daniel I.S.J. Rey-Bear
Partner, Nordhaus Law Firm

Scott Williams
Partner, Alexander Berkey Williams & Weathers

Vali Frank
EPA Region 9, Office of General Council

Panel Two - Green Energy on Tribal Lands: Addressing the unique challenges to development of green energy solutions on Native American tribal lands
States are ramping up development of green energy solutions such as wind and solar power. Similarly, developers and Native American tribal governments are working on developing green energy systems on tribal lands. In addition to the regulatory and technological issues that all green energy development projects face, there are unique challenges within Native American Tribal lands. In some cases the development might conflict with tribal religious practices, or there may be difficulty in determining what entity is responsible for regulating the development or controlling access to the land where the development is planned. This panel will discuss the challenges that green energy development faces on Native American tribal lands and ways that those issues can be addressed.

Moderator: Professor John Leshy, UC Hastings Law

Andy Bessler
Sierra Club Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships Program

Sidney Bob Dietz
Pacific Gas & Electric, Chairman of Navajo Tribal Utility Commission

Mike Connolly Miskwish
Involved in development of commercial wind power project on the Campo Band