Tribal Governments
PACE is privileged to represent a number of tribal governments throughout the United States. There is a constant need to educate Members of Congress about the complexities of tribal governmental issues – all which stem from a core understanding of tribal sovereignty.
PACE has developed significant expertise while working for tribal governments over the last thirty years. Our broad expertise has helped clients achieve success via legislation, regulation, and policy on issues related to:
Select Accomplishments for Tribal Nation Clients:
When our client told us that their most valuable natural resource could not be monetized due to federal law, PACE went to work. Over a six-year period, PACE orchestrated a systematic, step- by-step campaign to build stakeholder support, prepare and engage the Congressional delegation, and ultimately secure enactment of stand-alone legislation that expanded our client’s sovereign control over its resources.
Protecting the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is a high priority for all of Indian Country. When the Act was threatened by the Brackeen v Haaland case, PACE Clients intervened and asked us to strengthen the Act by building an atmosphere of congressional support for the law. In that role, PACE helped motivate a bi-partisan Congressional amicus brief in both the Circuit and Supreme Court, the latter having the support of nearly 100 Members of Congress. After an historic victory with the Supreme Court, PACE worked with elected leadership to amplify the win and is using the momentum to reinforce the need to improve implementation of the law across the nation.
After a prolonged administrative fee-to-trust process amidst local opposition and litigation, a client asked PACE if Congress could expedite the process. PACE secured local delegation support despite the extreme anti-Indian sentiments in the community, and ultimately succeeded in placing our client’s fee-to-trust provision to an unrelated bill, allowing them to begin to develop housing on their land for future generations.
A tribal government sought PACE’s expertise when they realized that an off-reservation casino proposal would devastate their ability to provide services for their community members. PACE reviewed and analyzed the situation, and provided a roadmap to rebuke the suspect basis for the project. Upon engagement, PACE undertook a systematic multi-year effort that was ultimately successful, protecting our client’s interests for years to come.
Client success example in Tribal Governments policy
- When our client told us that their most valuable natural resource could not be monetized due to federal law, PACE went to work. Over a six-year period, PACE orchestrated a systematic, step-by-step campaign to build stakeholder support, prepare and engage the Congressional delegation, and ultimately secure enactment of stand-alone legislation that expanded our client’s sovereign control over its resources.
- After a prolonged administrative fee-to-trust process amidst local opposition and litigation, a client asked PACE if Congress could expedite the process. PACE secured local delegation support despite the extreme anti-Indian sentiments in the community, and ultimately succeeded in placing our client’s fee-to-trust provision to an unrelated bill, allowing them to begin to develop housing on their land for future generations.
