Peebles Kidder Bergin & Robinson LLP

Dear Tribal Leaders and Administrators, In about one week, Tribes will receive the first distribution from the Tribal Assistance Funds authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. Are you ready to receive and deploy the $1.7M assistance and future funding assistance? Here are some key things that Tribes need to understand:... By the end of last week (May 21st), most Tribes received their first Tribal payment of American Rescue Plan Act funds from the U.S. Treasury. While these monies present Tribes with a sizable number of new opportunities, unless proper planning is done, many of those opportunities will be lost. Treasury’s second round of Rescue Act monies and the Tribe’s share of the Treasury’s Capital Investment Fund will also be released to Tribes within the next four weeks. Those Capital Fund dollars are specifically targeted towards infrastructure development. This will most likely require Tribes to contribute additional federal, state and private resources to complete most infrastructure projects. Webinars with Expert Advice We've put together a team of industry experts with unique insight into various facets of the enormous COVID relief package. Within the next few weeks, we'll be rolling out a series of special interactive webinars to share unique knowledge and tools to help you understand and deploy funds. If interested in participating in free webinars, click on the link below where you can sign up to participate in the webinars where we’ll discuss how the money can be used and implemented. Attend the COVID Relief Implementation Webinars at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/covid-relief-implementation-pl We look forward to talking with you!

We are pleased to share that our Associate Attorney, Shayla Bowles, is the Spotlight Member of the month for the Mindfulness in Law Society (MILS). The interview provided highlights Shayla's practice centering around the representation of tribal clients and addressing issues affecting Native Americans and their communities. https://www.mindfulnessinlawsociety.org//mindful-leaders-i

Peebles Kidder is proud to sponsor the 51st National Native American Law Students Association Annual Conference, beginning tomorrow at 12pm Eastern, and support of Indigenous Law Students. https://www.nationalnalsa.org/

Meet our Panelist for the McGirt v. Oklahoma panel: Mrs. Rebecca Kidder graduated from Yale Law School in 1997 and has spent her entire career representing Trib...es and Tribal entities, first as legal counsel to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for over ten years, and then in private practice. She joined Peebles Kidder Bergin & Robinson LLP in 2010 and is the managing partner of the Rapid City, South Dakota office and an Equity Partner in the Firm. She has been recognized in U.S. News and World Report as a Best Attorney in Native American Law the past 2 years, and the Rapid City, SD office she manages was recognized this year as a Tier 2 Best Law Firm in Native American Law. Mrs. Kidder has extensive experience litigating federal cases involving jurisdiction, taxation, and education and housing program funding. Mrs. Kidder also has significant experience with tribal jurisdictional matters including reservation diminishment claims by states, treaty-based claims, defending tribes and tribal entities against litigation by states and private parties, state taxes, and negotiation of tribal-state tax agreements. In addition to her litigation experience, Mrs. Kidder has assisted her tribal clients in securing construction and infrastructure funding for water systems, hospital, school and other economic development funding. She has wide-ranging experience in working with federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and HUD. Mrs. Kidder has also represented several tribes and tribal entities in securing financing for economic development projects including casino expansion, a nursing home, and other community facilities. She has a broad practice in construction management, procurement, land leasing and acquisition. She also has worked to assist tribes in government-to-government consultation efforts which include federal obligations to consult with tribes. She is admitted to practice in South Dakota, the 8th Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Federal Claims, and numerous tribal courts across the United States. Some of the more recent cases she has litigated include: Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. Noem, 938 F.3d 928 (8th Cir. 2019), cert. denied (May 26, 2020) and Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. Terwilliger involving preemption of sales and use tax at the casino and contractor’s excise taxes on casino renovation; Stathis v. Marty Indian School, 2019 S.D. 33 (2019), holding school employee suit against school and its employees is preempted in state courts; Yankton Sioux Tribe v. Podhradsky, 606 F.3d 994 (8th Cir. 2010), cert. denied, holding that the Yankton Sioux Reservation was not disestablished. Mrs. Kidder lives in the Black Hills in South Dakota with her husband Steven Brings Plenty. She is a mother to 8 children and grandmother to 10 grandchildren.

UPDATED: NALSA Symposium link Time: Apr 2, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting... https://usd.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx

The University of South Dakota NALSA Chapter is hosting the biennial NALSA Indian Law Virtual Symposium this Friday, April 2nd! Peebles Kidder Partner, Rebecca Kidder, is joining a panel of Indian law experts to discuss the United States Supreme Court decision of McGirt v. Oklahoma, and the jurisdictional impact it has had throughout Indian Country. Join the free and open to the public symposium by using the zoom link here:... https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87508879970

Peebles Kidder is pleased to announce that Blake Follis joined our new Kansas City office earlier this year. Blake previously served as the Attorney General of the Modoc Nation. A graduate of Washburn University School of Law, he concentrates his practice on tribal economic development. Blake is a member of the Modoc Nation. https://www.ndnlaw.com/staff/w-blake-follis/

We are pleased to announce that Derril Jordan joined the Firm earlier this year as a Partner in our expanding Washington, D.C. office. Derril is well known to Indian Country from his previous roles as the Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior, as the Attorney General of the Quinault Indian Nation and as a private practitioner. He is a member of the Mattaponi Tribe of Virginia. https://www.ndnlaw.com/staff/derril-b-jordan/

Peebles Kidder has been nationally recognized among the 2021 U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers list of Best Law Firms for the practice of Native American Law. The firm’s Sacramento and Rapid City offices have also been individually recognized for the practice of Native American Law. In addition, two of the Firm’s partners, Patrick Bergin and Rebecca Kidder, have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 for the practice of Native American Law. John Nyhan was selected for inclusion for the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions Defendants. The U.S. News Best Lawyers Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, as well as peer review from leading attorneys.

Congratulations to our longtime client, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, for their victory in a trial against South Dakota over the imposition of contractors excise tax on the casino renovation.

Please visit our totally revamped website. We hope you like our new look. www.ndnlaw.com

Congratulations, Rebecca Kidder. Peebles Kidder is delighted to announce that Rebecca L. Kidder has been elected an an Equity Partner of the Firm. Mrs. Kidder graduated from Yale Law School in 1997 and has dedicated her career to representing Tribes and Tribal entities including tribal housing authorities and schools. Mrs. Kidder’s notable litigation cases include Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. Noem, 938 F.3d 928 (8th Cir. 2019), cert. denied; Stathis v. Marty Indian School,... 2019 S.D. 33; and Yankton Sioux Tribe v. Podhrasky, 606 F.3d 994 (8th Cir. 2010), cert. denied. Mrs. Kidder lives in the Black Hills in South Dakota with her husband Stephen Brings Plenty and their children.We are

In a sweeping victory for the Yankton Sioux Tribe, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a full environmental impact statement for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Dealing with coronavirus workforce disruptions? Here are some possible solutions to help you navigate the weeks and months ahead.

For those of you who might have missed this week's announcement, we'd like to share a little good news: Attorney Thomasina Real Bird has been named to the 2020 Colorado Super Lawyers List! Congratulations, Thomasina! http://www.ndnlaw.com//Thomasina_Real_Bird_Award_P3-16-20.

News from Fredericks Peebles: In this edition, we're offering updated resources for navigating the coronavirus pandemic. Also, one of our attorneys has been named to the 2020 Colorado Super Lawyers listlearn more here!

Don't miss this month's news from Fredericks Peebles, including an historic MOA, new broadband opportunities for tribes, pandemic/disaster preparedness, and important upcoming events to put on your calendar.

Tribal casinos and businesses are vulnerable to disruption from natural disasters to seasonal flu and coronavirus. What steps can a tribe take to be as prepared as possible? http://www.ndnlaw.com//Pandemic_Preparedness_Tribal_Busine

The Bishop Paiute Tribal Council and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently signed a historic Memorandum of Agreement reflecting the understanding that each entity has its own unique authority to protect wildlife resources. At its heart, this significant government-to-government agreement acknowledges that the tribe may preserve its traditional culture and intergenerational well-being through its hunting practices. http://www.ndnlaw.com/newsdocum/Bishop_Paiute_Tribe_MOA.pdf

The FCC’s Rural Tribal Priority Window will be officially open starting Monday, Feb. 3. During this six-month window, which closes Aug. 3, qualifying tribal applicants may apply for one or more vacant channels of 2.5 GHz band spectrum.

Thomas W. Fredericks, retired partner and one of the nation's leading experts in the field of Native American law, shares his thoughts on why the Firm stands out as a law firm, and the top priorities in Indian law going forward.

Thomas W. Fredericks, partner at Fredericks Peebles & Patterson LLP and one of the nation's leading experts in the field of Native American law, recently took some time to reflect on his life and nearly 50-year career. Keep an eye out for Part II, coming soon!