Important Documents
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
Address
3711 SE Old Olympic Highway
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone
Please direct inquires to (360) 432-1771