35th Annual Alaska Native Law Conference

35th Annual Alaska Native Law Conference

November 13, 2019 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Denai’na Convention Center, Tubughnenq Room 3-4

4.75 General & 1.0 Ethics CLE Credits | CLE# 2019-005

8:30 a.m.  Welcome and Introduction

         Maude Blair, Southcentral Foundation

8:35 a.m.  Tribal Law Issues

Erin Dougherty Lynch, Native American Rights Fund

Natasha Singh, Tanana Chiefs Conference

Current legal issues affecting Alaska Native and Native American tribes

9:30 a.m.  Federal and State Law Update

Matt Mead, Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP

Alaska Native case law updates from state and federal courts

10:15 a.m.     Break

10:30 a.m.     Opioid Litigation

Whitney Leonard. Sonosky Chambers Sachse Miller & Monkman LLP

Status of nationwide opioid litigation and its implications for Alaska’s tribes and tribal organizations

11:00 a.m.       Board Conflicts of Interest

Phil Blumstein. Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP

                        Guidance, best practices and statutory provisions in navigating conflicts of interest with an emphasis on Alaska Native corporations

12:00 p.m.       Lunch 

1:00 p.m.         ANC Exemption from Anti-Discrimination Laws

Renea Saade, Littler Mendelson Corporation

• The exemption available to Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Best practices for raising this exemption defense when an agency complaint or lawsuit alleging discrimination or other violation of Title VII has been filed against an ANCSA corporation and/or certain related partnerships, joint ventures, trusts or affiliates.
• Shareholder hiring practices to help avoid potential violations of Title VII and/or other federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws.

1:45 p.m.         Federal Government Contracting and SBA Update

Christine Williams, Outlook Law, LLC

• Federal government contract update, including recent changes in laws and regulations, as well as those in development
• Q&A

2:30 p.m.  Federal Appropriations and Budget Processes

Leif Fonnesbeck, Fonnesbeck Capitol Strategies LLC

• Primary statutes governing the federal budget
• Appropriations process for working on Alaska Native law issues
• The current political landscape in the Alaska Native law arena

3:30 p.m.  Concludes