TRIBAL GOVERNANCE AND INDIAN SOVEREIGNTY

Call Now

Schedule a Consultation

Native American Indian Tribes have the sovereign right to govern themselves and their lands, and to exercise that sovereignty in many ways. This includes enacting their own legislation, holding elections, enforcing their own laws, and maintaining independent court systems. Mctlaw helps tribal governments protect those rights, uphold tribal sovereignty, and exercise it for the long-term benefit of the tribe and its citizens.

Developing Tribal Codes, Regulations, and Court Rules

Our attorneys learn the Tribe’s goals and preferred approaches, and then develop legislative or regulatory language that clearly and effectively meets the Tribe’s needs. The types of governance codes we can help you with include: 

• Developing Tribal Constitutions, Codes, Regulations, and Court Rules 
• Gaming
• Criminal codes
• Civil procedure
• Timber taxes
• Cannabis sales
• Election Codes

We pride ourselves on understanding and implementing the goals of a tribe. Our team recently created an election code for a Tribe that enabled them to hold their first election for a written constitution.

Talk to Our Indian Law Attorneys About Your Tribe’s Legal Needs at No Cost

Fill Out Contact Form

Call Us

Negotiating Governance and Tax Compacts with Other Governments

The attorneys at mctlaw negotiate intergovernmental compacts with state and local governments for tribal clients. These include class III gaming compacts, cannabis sales compacts, retail tax compacts, and payment in lieu of leasehold excise tax agreements. These can be especially beneficial, particularly for tribes in states where recreational cannabis is legal. Tribes in some states can enter into compacts with the state regarding their on and off reservation cannabis businesses to receive a portion of the tax from the sale.

Obtaining Pub. Law 638 Self-Determination Contracts and Self-Governance Compacts

Public Law 638 gives federally recognized Indian tribes the right to enter contracts with the Federal government to serve their tribal members and other eligible persons. Our firm has significant experience working with the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service on Pub. Law 638 contracts and compacts, as well as other sources of federal funding for tribal programs.  

Representing Tribal Government in Tribal Court

Mctlaw currently represents the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe as Tribal Prosecutors and Assistant Attorneys General in the tribes’ respective tribal courts. We represent these tribes in criminal cases, Indian child welfare cases, and cases involving tribal governance and enrollment. In addition, we are available to represent other tribes in their courts as needed.

Advising on Economic Development Opportunities such as Government Contracts

The Tribal and Native SBA 8(a) program gives tribes and native-owned businesses a leg up on the competition to supply federal agencies with goods and services. Our Indian law group includes government contract attorneys who advise tribes from the early planning stages to negotiating and implementing a lucrative contract with the federal government.

Our team of experienced Indian Law attorneys can help with matters like: 

• Tribal Governance and Regulations
• Treaty Rights for Indian Tribes
• Natural Resource Management for Tribal Lands
• Cannabis and Hemp Production and Sales for Indian Tribes
• Environmental Protection and Cleanup on Tribal Lands to Protect Sacred Sites
• Trademarking Tribal Insignias and Symbols
• Resolving Tribal Enrollment and Disenrollment Disputes
• Tribal Housing Programs and Funding
• Tribal Healthcare and Strengthening Government Partnerships
• Doing Business in Indian Country
• Indian Child Welfare Protections
• Indian Gaming Compact Lawyers
• Breach of Trust for Tribes in the US Court of Federal Claims
• Federal Funding Opportunities for Tribes
• Tribal Fee to Trust Land Acquisition for Casino Gaming
• Gaining Federal Recognition for Native American Indian Tribes
• Misuse of Railway Easements on Indian Tribal Lands
• SBA 8(a) Certification for Indian Tribes and Native American Business Owners
• Federal Takings Claims on Native American Indian Reservations
• Land Allotments
• Native American Indian Renewable Energy Development
• Wind Energy Ventures
• Native American Tribes and Employment Law

Content Reviewed by Kehl Van Winkle – Indian Law

Kehl Van Winkle is an attorney at mctlaw based in the Seattle, WA office. His legal practice focuses on Indian Law. Mr. Van Winkle earned his Juris Doctor degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Van Winkle worked as an in-house attorney for the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe where he represented the Tribe in a variety of economic development projects, including the opening of a casino and a marijuana dispensary. He also represented the Tribe in State and Tribal Court on Indian Child Welfare Act cases and served as the prosecuting attorney for the Tribe in Tribal Court. 

Kehl Van Winkle’s Attorney Bio

Contact Us Now

Step 1 of 2

50%

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone

Areas of Practice(Required)

Please Select...Vaccine InjuryMetal on Metal Hip ReplacementsOzempic, Trulicity, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Rybelsus, ZepboundDepo-ProveraKratom LawsuitsBoars Head Listeria OutbreakIndian LawFederal Takings/Eviction MoratoriumRails to TrailsOther

Is This About a COVID-19 Vaccine Injury?(Required)

Please Select..YESNO

Approximate month and/or year of vaccination:(Required)

Name of the vaccine or vaccines you got:(Required)

Flu / Influenza

Tetanus

Pneumonia / Pneumococcal

Chickenpox / Varicella

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR or MMRV)

HPV / Gardasil

Whooping Cough / Pertussis

Rotavirus

Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B

Meningitis / Meningococcal

DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis)

Hib / Haemophilus Influenzae type b

Polio

Other non-COVID vaccine

Have you seen a doctor or medical professional for treatment?

Please Select..YESNO

What was your diagnosis?

Name/Brand of Hip Implant:(Required)

Please Select..BiometJohnson & Johnson DePuy PinnacleDePuy ASRZimmerStrykerWright MedicalOtherI Don’t Know

Year of Original Hip Replacement Surgery:(Required)

Did your doctor talk to you about metallosis, pseudotumors, high metal levels in your blood, bone loss, osteolysis, or joint loosening?

Please Select..YESNO

Did You Have Revision Surgery or Are You Scheduled for Revision Surgery?(Required)

Please Select..YESNO

Date of revision surgery or upcoming revision surgery

Did you get a recall letter or notification?

Please Select..YESNO

Did You Have Revision Surgery or Are You Scheduled for Revision Surgery?(Required)

Please Select..YESNO

Names of the Kratom brands used

Type of Injury from Kratom

Please Select..Death of Family Member or FriendMedical Reaction Like Seizures, Heart Problems, Organ Failure, Etc.Addiction For Which You Are Getting TreatmentOther

If there is an autopsy report, what was the cause of death?

If there is a toxicology report, what substances are listed?

Have you seen a medical provider about the kratom injury?

Please Select...YESNO

What is your medical diagnosis?

Are you still using kratom?

Please Select...YESNO

Have you gotten treatment for addiction or gone to rehab?

Please Select...YESNO

Are you a member of a tribe?

Please Select..YESNO

Is your question about a tribal matter?

Please Select..YESNO

What is the name of the tribe:

What is the tribe's location?

Did you take any of the following medications?

Ozempic

Wegovy

Mounjaro

Trulicity

Rybelsus

Zepbound

Other

Was your medication the name brand or generic/compounded?

Name Brand

Generic/Compounded

I don't know

What is the name of the pharmacy or website where you ordered the prescription?

Which form of medication did you use?

Pre-loaded injection pen

Vial of medication with syringe injection

Pill form

Other

When did you start taking the GLP-1 medication? (month and year)

Have you stopped taking it?

Please Select..YesNo

When did you stop taking the medication? (Month and year)

Have you been diagnosed with a medical condition by a doctor after taking the medication?(Required)

Please Select..YesNo

What is the diagnosis or condition:(Required)

What kind of medical care did you undergo for new or worsening symptoms AFTER you started taking the medicine? Check all that apply.

Surgery

Hospitalized for one or more nights

Urgent care or ER visit

Treatment by primary care doctor or specialist

Other

No Medical Treatment Yet

If other, describe the medical care you received:

Do you have documentation to show you were prescribed and/or filled the prescription for the drug? Please check all that apply.

Photo of medication packaging

Paper prescription

Pharmacy records

Online medical records

Medication packaging or box with prescription label

Emails from medical provider or pharmacy

Other

None

Upload images or other proof of prescription here.

Drop files here or Select files

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Upload any medical records or documents showing your diagnosis or injury from taking the medication.

Drop files here or Select files

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Tell us if there are additional details about your situation we should know about.

Are you contacting us on behalf of a deceased family member/friend?

Please Select..YESNO

Did you experience a permanent injury from eating the contaminated meat?

Please Select..YESNO

What kind of medical treatment did you undergo because of the listeria poisoning?

Do you have receipts or the packaging from the recalled Boar's Head Deli meats?

Please Select..YESNO

What year did you first start getting Depo Provera shots?

About how many injections of Depo-Provera have you had?

What is your diagnosis after taking Depo-Provera?(Required)

Name of the clinic or medical provider where you got the prescription for Depo-provera?

Please add additional information about what has happened.

I agree to the Terms and Conditions outlined in this link by submitting this information to mctlaw.

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As an experienced leader in these types of lawsuits, we were confident the firm would have the expertise. However, what surprised us most was the high level of excellent customer service from the firm’s staff!

Pat R.

I can’t recommend this firm enough. They have an outstanding team that truly care for their clients…I have been awarded a fair six figure settlement.

Nate M.

When I say “they went to bat” for me…this Law Firm literally did just that. They persevered to bring the hard-nosed Manufacturer to settle and provide me some recompense for everything I had to endure which led to this suit.

Me’Chelle

Read our Client Testimonials