Legal – Squaxin Island Tribe

Legal Department Feedback Form

Legal’s primary programmatic objective is to deliver comprehensive legal services throughout, and in coordination with, the tribal government (including it’s numerous programs, departments, committees, and commissions) and tribal enterprises.

We are committed to protecting and preserving the Tribe’s human, natural and cultural resources while creating opportunity for healthful and prosperous lives for tribal members. We serve their efforts as their collective advocates.

To minimize risks, Legal initiates regular communication with each director and enterprise. We respond to inquiries, concerns, questions, and potential and threatened litigation.

We assist in developing and maintaining legal infrastructure necessary for governance, including policies, resolutions, and ordinances.

As advocates, we represent the Tribe before federal, and state and tribal judicial forums.

We continue to represent the Tribe in the on-going case United States v. Washington in regard to treaty fishing rights – dispute resolution, salmon allocation, usual and accustomed fishing grounds and stations, and shellfish proceedings and implementation.

We also represent the Tribe in treaty hunting and gathering rights, water-rights, tax matters, and other issues as directed by the Tribal Council and/or any of it’s many entities.

On-Going Highlights
Assert recognition of the peoples and places of Squaxin Island Tribe
Defend and assert the Tribe’s treaty-quaranteed harvesting rights
Defend against attempts to exclude Squaxin Island Tribe from U&A areas
Participate in governmental and court proceedings to help protect fish habitat
Protect boundaries and tidelands of Squaxin Island
Coordinate land acquisition and fee-to-trust transfers
Develop enforcement protocols with state for exercise of treaty rights
Coordinate efforts among Western Washington tribes
Develop or amend codes for enrollment, liquor sales, and protection of vulnerable adults and others
Assist with efforts to educate about current and future enrollment issues
Assist tribal members with estate planning, including wills and durable powers of attorney for health care
Respond to the needs of vulnerable adults
Resolve eligibility and benefit limits under federal programs
Resolve per capita issues for member inmates in state prisons
Provide legal assistance with financing obligations for LCCR, IEI and tribal government
Negotiate compact amendments for gaming
Develop emergency assistance agreement
Provide contract reviews campus-wide

Recent Accomplishments

Received approval for the Squaxin Island Tribe’s Treatment as a State under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act
Successfully negotiated amendment no. VI to the Washington State Gaming Compact for Sports Wagering
Drafted improvements to the Probate and Housing Codes

Important Documents
Squaxin Island Tribal Code

Recent improvements to the Squaxin Island Tribal Code

The Legal department endeavors to keep this page current and complete but cannot guarantee that every ordinance is included. Please use the link above to the view the published Tribal Code.

If you have questions, please contact Lindsey Harrell, Paralegal, at

2.70 General Welfare Code

8.00 Probate Code

9.18 Illegal Dumping Code

11.20 Housing Code

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Squaxin Island Tribe Constitution

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Indian section of the IRS

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Northwest Justice Project’s Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral System

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