In 1854, Chief Seattle said “humankind has not woven the web of life — we are but one thread within it — whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves, all things are bound together, all things connect.”
On June 8, Foster Pepper PLLC, in partnership with the Northwest Justice Project’s Native American Unit, sponsored a CLE to advance the chief’s notion that everything around us is impacted by our actions and that we are connected such that the well-being of our communities depends on access to justice.
The goal of the CLE was to connect pro bono attorneys and people of limited means in Native American and Alaska Native communities. To that end, Foster Pepper and NJP created an agenda designed not only to educate attendees about substantive areas of Indian law, but also to educate attorneys on pro bono opportunities. At a fundamental level, the traditional native wisdom that “all things are bound together” provided a guide. By training attorneys who are new to this area of law and providing them with pro bono opportunities in the Indian community, both the legal and Native American communities would benefit tremendously. And they did.
“I believe this CLE took away the mystery and fear out of litigating cases in tribal courts,” said Millie Kennedy, the Native American Advocacy coordinator for NJP.
The attorneys and public service representatives in attendance gained insight into a new, intriguing area of law, including the rules and procedures for litigating in the courts of a sovereign nation. They learned about pro bono partnerships and how to get involved (please see sidebar) with non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing Native American rights.
Professor Robert Anderson from the University of Washington School of Law gave an interesting lecture on the fundamentals of federal Indian law, followed by a panel discussion on cultural sensitivity.
“Most Indian communities are unique and different. Cultural sensitivity involves a great deal of patience when communicating with Indian clients and getting to know the community,” said Kennedy.
Reservation attorney Scott Wheat from the Spokane Tribe gave a traditional midday invocation. Shortly thereafter, he launched into a practical information session about tribal courts, which transitioned perfectly into Diana Bob’s panel on litigating in tribal courts. A number of attorneys enlisted on the spot to work with Tribal Court CASA as well as the two local law school pro bono projects dedicated to Native American legal issues.
The CLE provided context and education about how, through partnership, we can provide more legal advocacy for people in the Native American community — both through direct representation and policy change. Working with an organization such as Appleseed of Washington, a national non-profit organization dedicated to systematic policy change, is one way to springboard this partnership. Appleseed can put together a dedicated team of attorneys and legal advocates to design a project that focuses on crucial areas of need for Native Americans. There is no shortage of areas prime for in-depth research and positive policy change.
According to Greg Guedel, chair of Foster Pepper’s Native American Legal Services practice group, “Providing pro bono representation is a fundamental part of our commitment to serving the needs of our client communities.”
In the end, just as Chief Seattle said some 153 years ago, whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves. And strengthening the web of justice will benefit not only those who are receiving the assistance, but those who are providing it as well.
To facilitate year-round learning, Foster Pepper videotaped the entire event. DVDs are available from Joanna Plichta at plicj@foster.com.
