Tribes are the third sovereign in the United States Constitutional order. As sovereigns, tribes have the inherent authority to promulgate their own laws. However, federal law significantly limits the effectiveness of tribal law. Supreme Court jurisprudence has diminished tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians; plus, tribes are subject to numerous federal laws and regulations that do not apply on state lands. This briefing will explore how federal law stands in the way of tribal economic development. The briefing will include a panel discussion, followed by a luncheon keynote address.

Richard Monette, Professor of Law and Director, Great Lakes Indian Law Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School

Thomas F. Gede, Principal, Morgan Lewis Consulting and Of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Peter Ortego, General Counsel, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

Moderator: Adam Crepelle, Assistant Professor of Law, and Director, Tribal Law & Economics Program, Law & Economics Center, George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

Keynote Speaker: Mark N. Fox, Chairman, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation