{"id":9500,"date":"2025-12-18T14:54:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/events.asucollegeoflaw.com\/ilp-wiringtherez\/?page_id=9500"},"modified":"2026-02-18T15:32:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:32:35","slug":"speakers-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/events.asucollegeoflaw.com\/ilp-wiringtherez\/speakers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"Kraynal Alfred<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Policy Advisor, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Federal Communications Commission<\/em><\/p>

Kraynal Alfred is a Navajo Nation citizen with over 15 years of experience in our nation\u2019s capital working on a variety of issues impacting Indian Country.\u00a0 Prior to starting at the FCC in 2024, Kraynal previously had served as the Tribal Liaison for USAC during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked in the Office of Public Affairs for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. \u00a0Kraynal holds a master\u2019s degree in public policy from Harvard University\u2019s Kennedy School of Government.<\/p>

\"\"Joshua Armant<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Senior Solution Engineer, Microsoft<\/em><\/p>

With 12 years at Microsoft, Joshua Armant<\/strong> is a Senior Solution Engineer and trusted AI strategist at the forefront of innovation in the Federal Civilian sector, including deep partnerships with Native American Tribes. He bridges strategy and execution to turn emerging AI capabilities into real world impact.<\/p>

Joshua specializes in making Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio<\/strong> clear, accessible, and purpose driven\u2014elevating AI fluency while designing solutions that respect culture, mission, and community. From pilots and hackathons to mentorship and leadership enablement, he is driven by a single goal: empowering Tribes with the confidence and tools to thrive in the AI era.<\/p>

\"\"Derrick Beetso<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Professor of Practice; Executive Director, Indian Gaming and Self-Governance, ASU Law<\/em><\/p>

Beetso is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and earned his JD and certificate in Indian law as part of ASU Law\u2019s nationally recognized Indian Legal Program.<\/p>

Prior to joining ASU Law, Beetso served as the general counsel for the National Congress of American Indians, the first and only Native person to ever serve in this capacity for the organization. While there, he handled in-house legal needs and co-managed the Tribal Supreme Court Project with the Native American Rights Fund.<\/p>

Beetso also served as an attorney-adviser within the Office of the Solicitor\u2019s Phoenix Field Office, where he provided legal services for the Western Region of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the San Carlos Irrigation Project. Previously, he served as counselor to Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn during President Barack Obama\u2019s administration.<\/p>

\"\"Allison Binney<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Partner, Allison Binney Law\/PACE Government Relations<\/em><\/p>

Allison has spent more than 25 years working on public policy, administrative law, gaming law, and advising on and negotiating agreements between the federal, tribal and state governments. Her current work at PACE focuses on advising clients on legislative and regulatory matters, advocating on behalf of clients before Congress and federal agencies, and serving as a subject matter expert before state legislatures. Her work focuses on natural resources, public safety and law enforcement, appropriations, gaming, land, health care, tax policy, and general government matters.<\/p>

Prior to joining PACE as a public policy advocate, Allison served as senior staff, including staff director and chief legal counsel, to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs from 2005 to 2011. While at the Committee, Ms. Binney oversaw and assisted in efforts to enact numerous laws impacting Native Americans including provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Tribal Law and Order Act, reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, several class-action lawsuit settlements, tribal water rights, and laws relating to housing, the leasing and development of Indian lands, homeland security and language and cultural preservation. Ms. Binney also oversaw congressional investigations and oversight of federal agencies that interact with American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.<\/p>

Allison received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Chico, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Arizona State University\u2019s Sandra Day O\u2019Connor School of Law. She is a citizen of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians in Northern California, and in her spare time she focuses on Native American youth issues serving as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute.<\/p>

\"\"Steve Bodmer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

General Counsel, Pechanga Band of Indians<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Steve M. Bodmer’s career is defined through his commitment to serving indigenous communities and upholding tribal sovereignty. Steve earned his Juris Doctor from Arizona State University College of Law, where he also received the Indian Legal Program Certificate, signifying study and expertise in Federal Indian law. Steve serves as General Counsel for the Pechanga Band of Indians in Temecula, California. In this role, he provides comprehensive legal counsel to the Tribal Council and the Pechanga Development Corporation, while overseeing the legal affairs of the Pechanga Resort & Casino along with other economic development projects. His practice areas include federal Indian law, gaming law, tribal governance, and tribal economic development. Steve is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and also an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, Gould College of Law where he teaches Federal Indian Law.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Leonard Bruce<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Data Analyst, Gila River Indian Community<\/em><\/p>

Leonard Bruce is a data analyst and policy strategist from the Gila River Indian Community, where he focuses on leveraging data to support tribal governance, education, and economic resilience. A graduate of Arizona State University with a Master\u2019s in Science & Technology Policy, Leonard brings deep expertise in Indigenous labor, decolonizing employment systems, and the ethical use of tribal data. Through his work with Tribal DataWorks and his writing on Stories & Systems, Leonard explores how data sovereignty and storytelling can empower Native nations in the digital age.<\/p>

\"\"Jennifer Campeau<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Vice President, Indigenous Relations, Aecon<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Jennifer Campeau serves as Vice President of Indigenous Relations at Aecon, where she leads the company\u2019s national strategy for Indigenous engagement, partnerships, and reconciliation. A member of the Anishinaabe from Yellowquill First Nation with kinship ties to the Eastern Region III M\u00e9tis Nation of Saskatchewan, she brings more than 20 years of experience in Indigenous policy, governance, and community\u2011centered economic development.<\/span><\/p>

Before joining Aecon, Campeau held senior roles in government, academia, and industry, including serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Saskatchewan and working as an instructor and researcher focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship, nation\u2011building, and governance. Her career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening relationships between Indigenous communities and industry, advancing equitable opportunities, and supporting long\u2011term, community\u2011driven development.<\/span><\/p>

At Aecon, she oversees the evolution of the company\u2019s Indigenous Relations portfolio and guides organizational actions aligned with Aecon\u2019s Reconciliation Action Plan, ensuring meaningful collaboration with Indigenous partners across Canada.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Mark Carter<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund (NARF)<\/span><\/i><\/p>

NARF Staff Attorney Mark Carter has a wide-ranging legal career based on his desire to empower and uplift tribal communities and uphold the sovereign rights that tribes have possessed since time immemorial. His work has focused on a variety of federal Indian Law and civil rights issues including jurisdictional authority, child welfare, environmental protection, education, and equal protection claims.<\/span><\/p>

At NARF, Mark is working on cases that address issues like asserting tribal sovereign authority to provide for the health and welfare of citizens, defending sacred places from a private developer\u2019s resource extraction, holding a state accountable for its failure to uphold its state constitutional duty to teach children about Native American history and culture.<\/span><\/p>

Prior to joining the NARF team, Mark already had garnered broad experience in tribal and federal Indian Law. Already, he had served as the Wilma Mankiller Legal Fellow at the National Congress of American Indians, the Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice (Office of Tribal Justice), the Assistant General Counsel at the Gila River Indian Community, and as a Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union focusing on Indigenous justice issues.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Maranda Compton<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

President, Lepwe Inc.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>

pronunciation: Lep (rhymes with yep) \u2013 way<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Maranda Compton is a nationally recognized expert on issues of Native American law and policy and a highly sought after strategic consultant in the energy and technology spaces.\u00a0 She is the Founder and President of Lepwe, a consulting boutique that provides strategic advice and education to Tribal Nations and non-tribal entities, foundations, and governments seeking to consult, engage, and partner with Tribes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Her current work spans co-development projects in transmission and energy generation; partnerships between venture capital and Tribal Nations, with a special focus on the development of hard science technology and manufacturing in Indian Country; and advocacy for Tribal Digital and Data Sovereignty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Maranda is a citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, a mother, and a resident of Missoula, Montana.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Sean Dudley<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Associate Vice President, ASU Knowledge Enterprise<\/em><\/p>

Sean Dudley leads the Research Technology Office, which provides specialized technology solutions and services that enable and protect ASU\u2019s research community and sponsored projects. The office also organizes collaborative projects across the three state universities and supports the advancement of Arizona\u2019s technological infrastructure.<\/p>

Dudley began his career in research information technology in 1998 at the University of Wisconsin. His passion for blending scientific research and technology later brought him to Tempe, where he initially worked at the ASU Biodesign Institute in the Center for Evolutionary Functional Genomics. Soon after, he advanced to a leadership role among the Knowledge Enterprise that allowed him to develop and provide many services to ASU’s entire research community.<\/p>

Dudley holds degrees in biology, computer science, and philosophy from the University of Wisconsin. He earned a Six Sigma Black Belt from ASU\u2019s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and is currently pursuing a PhD at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.<\/p>

\"\"Godfrey Enjady<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

General Manager, Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc.<\/em><\/p>

Godfrey Enjady is the General Manager of Mescalero Apache Telecom, Inc. (MATI), where he leads one of the nation\u2019s most successful tribally owned telecommunications companies. With decades of experience advancing broadband infrastructure in Indian Country, he has been a driving force behind expanding high\u2011quality, reliable connectivity for the Mescalero Apache Tribe and surrounding communities.<\/p>

Under his leadership, MATI has implemented innovative network upgrades, strengthened operational capacity, and championed broadband initiatives that support economic development, education, and public safety. Enjady is widely respected for his technical expertise, strategic vision, and long-standing commitment to ensuring Tribal Nations have access to modern communications services<\/p>

He continues to advocate for Tribal sovereignty in telecommunications and for equitable access to broadband resources across Indian Country.<\/p>

\"\"Barbara Esbin<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Deputy Bureau Chief, Federal Communications Commission\u2019s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Barbara S. Esbin<\/b> is Deputy Bureau Chief of the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.\u00a0 In that capacity, she oversees the Bureau\u2019s intergovernmental affairs portfolio, including the work of its Office of Native Affairs and Policy and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, to ensure collaborative and productive engagement and consultation with state, local and Tribal governments and organizations in critical areas of communications policy and implementation of new technologies.\u00a0 Ms. Esbin has over thirty years of experience in communications law and policy.\u00a0 This includes three separate tours of duty with the FCC during which she has held a variety of senior staff positions.\u00a0 Most recently, she was Deputy Bureau Chief in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau where she worked on wireless competition and consumer related matters, spectrum aggregation, allocation and management, and introduction of new technologies.\u00a0 She has also previously served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau and Associate Chief of the Media Bureau; and held various senior positions in the Common Carrier Bureau (predecessor to Wireline Competition Bureau), and the Cable Services and Enforcement Bureaus.\u00a0 Ms. Esbin has been a partner in private practice with several firms, representing communications companies before the FCC, the U.S. Congress, and the courts, and a Senior Fellow at a Washington, DC-based think tank specializing in communications policy and law.\u00a0 Ms. Esbin held judicial clerkships, respectively, on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.\u00a0 She received her J.D. from the Duke University School of Law and her B.A. from Antioch College.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Patty Ferguson Bohnee<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Charles M. Brewer Professor of Trial Advocacy; Faculty Director, Indian Legal Program and Director, Indian Legal Clinic, ASU Law<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee has substantial experience in Indian law, election law and policy matters, voting rights, and status clarification of tribes. She is a clinical professor of law, the faculty director of the Indian Legal Program and the director of the Indian Legal Clinic at ASU.<\/span><\/p>

Professor Ferguson-Bohnee has testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Louisiana State Legislature regarding tribal recognition, and has successfully assisted four Louisiana tribes in obtaining state recognition. Professor Ferguson-Bohnee has represented tribal clients in administrative, state, federal, and tribal courts, as well as before state and local governing bodies and proposed revisions to the Real Estate Disclosure Reports to include tribal provisions. She has assisted in complex voting rights litigation on behalf of tribes, and she has drafted state legislative and congressional testimony on behalf of tribes with respect to voting rights\u2019 issues.<\/span><\/p>

Before joining ASU in 2007, Professor Ferguson-Bohnee clerked for Judge Betty Binns Fletcher of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and was an associate in the Indian Law and Tribal Relations Practice Group at Sacks Tierney P.A. in Phoenix. As a Fulbright Scholar to France, she researched French colonial relations with Louisiana Indians in the 17th and 18th centuries.<\/span><\/p>

Professor Ferguson-Bohnee, a member of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian tribe, serves as the Native Vote Election Protection Coordinator for the State of Arizona.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Frances Goli<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Broadband Project Manager, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Frances Goli is the Tribal Broadband Project Manager for the Shoshone Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall, Idaho, where she leads strategic efforts to close the digital divide across her Tribal lands in southeastern Idaho. She oversees the planning and implementation of broadband buildout projects on the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes underserved rural areas, leveraging grant funded initiatives to expand reliable, high speed internet access throughout the Fort Hall community.<\/p>

The Shoshone Bannock Tribes are a member of the Inland Northwest Tribal Broadband Coalition (INWTBC), a collaborative network of Tribes working together to strengthen broadband access across the region. Through this collective approach, Frances supports efforts that promote inclusive connectivity, resource sharing, and long term sustainability, while advancing the preservation of Tribal languages, cultures, and histories guided by the principles of the Seven Generations. Her work centers on developing sustainable broadband frameworks that promote equity, access, and opportunity while reinforcing tribal self determination and sovereignty.<\/p>

\"\"<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Morgan Gray<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Senior Research & Policy Analyst, American Indian Policy Institute, ASU Law<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Morgan Gray (Chickasaw Nation) serves as the Senior Research & Policy Analyst at the American Indian Policy Institute, where she leads AIPI\u2019s policy and research agenda. As an attorney and former Tribal government employee, she is deeply committed to advancing research on emerging issues at the intersection of law and policy that impact Tribal communities.<\/p>

Morgan brings a strong passion for telecommunications and broadband policy to her role. She previously served the Chickasaw Nation and its telecommunications subsidiary Trace Fiber Networks, LLC as a policy analyst tasked with developing and articulating the organization\u2019s broadband development strategy. She also worked to secure federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects in Chickasaw territory, crafted a digital equity plan, and managed the Chickasaw Nation\u2019s wireless spectrum portfolio.<\/p>

Morgan served as a legal fellow for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs while in law school, where she drafted legislation and analyzed policy proposals affecting Tribal communities. She was also a member of the Federal Communications Law Journal\u2019s (FCLJ) editorial board, and prepared law review articles and student-authored notes for publication. After law school, Morgan clerked for the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court, Susan M. Carney, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Morgan is a proud alumni of the American Indian Law Center\u2019s Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) Program, Class of 2021.<\/p>

Morgan earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. She also received a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University.<\/p>

\"\"Leslie Hardwick<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Manager, Community Development, NOANET<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Leslie Hardwick, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, is the Manager of Community Development at NoaNet, a nonprofit municipal corporation advancing broadband access and connectivity across Washington State. She supports Tribal partners and rural communities through relationship-driven collaboration and community-focused broadband development.<\/span><\/p>

Over the last 20 years, Mrs. Hardwick has built hands-on experience in Tribal ISP operations, telecom billing, and program implementation. What started as a way to strengthen her administrative skills became a career rooted in connection, helping communities access the services, information, and opportunities broadband makes possible. She began at Red Spectrum Communications on the Coeur d\u2019Alene Indian Reservation, supporting day-to-day operations, helping lead a grant focused on digital navigation, and serving as a radio DJ and newscaster for Rezkast News. She later supported the Spokane Tribe during a transitional period, helping establish telecom operations and billing to strengthen service delivery and organizational continuity. From 2020 to 2024, she also worked with MuralNet supporting Tribes nationwide with ACP and practical operational guidance.<\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Hardwick\u2019s approach is grounded in relationships and coordination. She works alongside Tribal teams, peer networks, and public-sector and industry partners to connect people to resources, support shared problem-solving, and help move community priorities forward in ways that reflect local goals.<\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Hardwick is a member of the Inland Northwest Tribal Broadband Coalition and one of the \u201cBroadband Aunties.\u201d This collaborative represents the Tribal Nations of Colville, Coeur d\u2019Alene, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock, and Spokane. The coalition grew out of relationships formed at a Tribal Broadband Bootcamp at Oregon State University and continues strengthening Tribal broadband efforts through collaboration guided by the principles of the Seven Generations and a shared commitment to building inclusive, connected Tribal communities.<\/span><\/p>

She is honored to join her broadband sisters in sharing lessons learned and encouraging more women to step into and thrive in broadband leadership.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Amber Hastings<\/strong><\/p>

Digital Navigator and American Connection Corps AmeriCorps Member, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Amber Hastings serves as a Digital Navigator and American Connection Corps AmeriCorps Member with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, where she supports tribal community members in advancing digital access, skills, and connectivity. Her work focuses on helping community members navigate technology, access affordable internet and devices, and build confidence in essential digital skills.<\/span><\/p>

Hastings plays an active role in regional and national digital inclusion efforts. She has co\u2011facilitated workshops at the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, helping participants understand the digital divide and develop strategies for building Indigenous\u2011centered digital inclusion ecosystems. She has also represented her program as a panelist at the Net Inclusion Conference, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities in Tribal broadband expansion.<\/span><\/p>

Her work reflects a deep commitment to digital equity, Indigenous digital sovereignty, and strengthening the technological capacity of Tribal communities.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Onawa Haynes, Esq.<\/b>
<\/b>
<\/b><\/a>President & Founder, Tribal Funding Registry (Hozhonigo Institute)<\/span>
<\/span>CEO – HC Growth Strategies<\/span><\/p>

Onawa Haynes is an attorney, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized grant strategist committed to advancing sovereignty and economic opportunity in Tribal communities. She began her entrepreneurial journey in 2015 with the founding of HC Growth Strategies (formerly Hozhonigo Consulting), driven by a belief that Native communities deserve direct access to the capital required to build strong governments, businesses, and systems.<\/span><\/p>

Since then, Onawa has led efforts that have secured over <\/span>$200 million in federal and private foundation awards<\/b> for more than 55 Indigenous-serving entities nationwide, including 12 Tribal Nations, Tribal housing authorities, economic development corporations, Native-led nonprofits, and public and charter schools across the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawai\u2018i, and the Midwest.. Her work supports critical initiatives including tribal law enforcement, behavioral health, education, infrastructure, courts, capital projects, and victim services.<\/span><\/p>

She is also the President of the Hozhonigo Institute, a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit and parent organization of the Tribal Funding Registry (TFR). The Tribal Funding Registry is a 100% free, searchable grants database and fundraising strategy platform created to improve equitable access to grant opportunities across Indian Country and Indigenous communities throughout the United States, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. Approaching its one-year anniversary in March 2026, <\/span>the TFR has already supported $73 million in grant applications submitted and contributed to nearly $20 million in awards to Indigenous communities nationwide.<\/b><\/p>

Onawa holds a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, is a member of the New Mexico Bar, and is completing her MBA through Gonzaga University\u2019s American Indian Entrepreneurship program. Her work is grounded in cultural responsibility and the conviction that Indigenous communities should lead where resources flow.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Dawson Her Many Horses<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Managing Director, Wells Fargo<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Dawson Her Many Horses is a managing director at Wells Fargo, which is the leading provider of capital and financial services to the Native American and Alaska Native markets. Wells Fargo has relationships with more than 400 tribes and tribally owned enterprises, with approximately $2.5 billion in credit commitments and $2.5 billion in deposits. After joining Wells Fargo in 2018, he was appointed head of Native American Banking in 2021 before being named a managing director in 2023.<\/p>

Her Many Horses\u2019 career has spanned commercial and investment banking, with a focus on Native American gaming. He began his career at Merrill Lynch after graduating from Columbia University in 2004. Her Many Horses was appointed director of Native American business development for the investment banking, wealth management, and asset management groups at Merrill Lynch. He later moved into Merrill Lynch investment banking, where he focused on the tribal gaming market. Her Many Horses received his M.B.A. from Dartmouth College in 2010 and rejoined Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he was a banker on the Gaming team until 2018.<\/p>

Her Many Horses is the founder of the Native American employee group at Bank of America and is chair of the Native American Visiting Committee at Dartmouth College. He is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.<\/p>

\"\"Melissa King<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Department of Technology Services Manager, Nez Perce Tribe<\/em><\/p>

Melissa King serves as the Department of Technology Services Manager for the Nez Perce Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho, where she leads transformative initiatives to modernize digital infrastructure and expand connectivity for Tribal communities. She oversees NTIA and BEAD-funded projects that deliver high-speed fiber\/Internet directly to homes, ensuring equitable access to essential online services while honoring the Seven Generations principle\u2014building solutions that serve families today and generations to come.<\/span><\/p>

With a community-first mindset, Melissa drives cross-functional efforts\u2014from website modernization to IT service enhancements\u2014that strengthen Tribal programs and empower members. Known for fostering collaboration and delivering innovative solutions, she partners with regional stakeholders across the Inland Northwest to build secure, future-ready networks. Her work reflects a deep commitment to digital inclusion and bridging the technology gap in rural areas.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"William (Billy) Kirkland<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Assistant Secretary \u2013 Indian Affairs<\/span><\/em><\/p>

William (Billy) Kirkland, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is the 15th Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 2025.<\/p>

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs assists the Secretary of the Interior in fulfilling the Department\u2019s trust responsibilities to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and individuals. The post was established in the late 1970s under the authority contained in 43 U.S.C. 145.<\/p>

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Kirkland delivered high-impact services to Fortune 500 companies, political candidates, and advocacy campaigns, driving strategic results for businesses and organizations across the country. His leadership experience includes managing professional teams, developing sophisticated campaign strategies, and achieving significant legislative and public relations outcomes.<\/p>

Mr. Kirkland\u2019s career in public service includes serving in the Executive Office of the President as special assistant to the president and deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, he led tribal engagement efforts for the White House, revitalized the White House Council on Native American Affairs Policy Agenda, and coordinated the first-ever Oval Office recognition of Navajo Code Talkers. His work advanced collaboration among federal, tribal, state, and local leaders, strengthening government-to-government relationships nationwide.<\/p>

Mr. Kirkland holds a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Georgia. He has been recognized with several distinguished honors, including the University of Georgia\u2019s Top 40 Under 40 Award, designation as an Eagle Scout, and appointment to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.<\/p>

\"\"Samuel Kohn<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Partner, Kaplan Kirsch<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Samuel Kohn is a member of the Aps\u00e1alooke Nation (Crow Tribe of Montana) and has nearly 15 years of experience helping Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives to interpret and advance their unique legal status and political relationships with the United States.\u00a0 Sam represents Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, and tribal consortia in matters of self-governance and self-determination, matters related to Indian lands and related compliance, and other engagement with the United States, all while bearing in mind the unique challenges that tribes should consider when trying to obtain the best possible long-term outcomes.<\/span><\/p>

Sam served previously as Senior Counselor to the Assistant Secretary \u2013 Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior. In this role, he supported the Assistant Secretary\u2019s relationship with all Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives.\u00a0 Sam advised the Assistant Secretary on implementation of the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act, including Public Law 102-477, negotiation of collaborative stewardship agreements, protection of cultural and historic resources, Indian arts and crafts, fee-to-trust and right of way issues, Indian water right settlements, gaming matters, and roads and transportation matters.<\/span><\/p>

In addition to his work in Indian law, Sam has managed nearly all stages of litigation. He has taken or defended depositions, briefed and argued motions, and won appeals, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, D.C. Circuit, and California Court of Appeal.<\/span><\/p>

Prior to joining the firm, Sam served as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the District of Montana and the Montana Supreme Court.\u00a0 Sam also worked at an international firm as a member of their Native American Law and Policy, Federal Regulatory and Compliance, and litigation practice groups.\u00a0 He also has worked as Assistant Regional Counsel in the Office of General Counsel in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Sam also supported Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) as part of his staff on the United States Senate Committee on Finance.<\/span><\/p>

Sam is a sought-after lawyer for tribes, tribal governments and businesses and individuals navigating complex and interconnected legal, political, and policy challenges.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Patrice Kunesh<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans of the United States<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Patrice H. Kunesh is a visiting law professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution focused on issues concerning economic development in Native communities.<\/p>

Previously, Kunesh served as the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs. Kunesh also was appointed to the US Treasury Community Development Advisory Board (CDFI Fund) as the representative for Native communities. In 2023, President Biden nominated Kunesh to be the Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission.<\/p>

Kunesh has held appointments as the Deputy Solicitor for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior and Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, she was the inaugural director of the Center for Indian Country Development, an economic policy research initiative, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Kunesh started her law career at the Native American Rights Fund and then served as in-house counsel to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. She also held faculty positions at the University of South Dakota School of Law.<\/p>

Kunesh graduated with a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law and earned an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.<\/p>

\"\"Aaron LaPointe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Chief Executive Officer, Ho\u2011Chunk Capital<\/em><\/p>

An enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe, Aaron LaPointe is the CEO of Ho-Chunk Capital, a sub-division of Ho-Chunk Inc, where he oversees all operations for Ho-Chunk Construction, Ho-Chunk Capital, HCI Management Services, Ho-Chunk Trading Group, Pony Express, and Ho-Chunk Farms. With a focus on expanding the opportunities within these divisions, Aaron also shares his expertise in the agriculture industry with tribal programs and businesses. Holding a B.S. in Mechanized Systems Management from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which he obtained in May 2016. Furthermore, he earned a Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities Certification from Harvard University in May 2022. He was a member of the 2022 Class of UNL Distinguished Alumni from the Chancellor\u2019s Commission on the status of people of color. He was also recognized by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development by being awarded the \u201cNative American 40 Under 40 Award\u201d.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Peter A. Larson<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Peter Larson is a partner in the firm’s Tribal Affairs, Finance, and Gaming practice groups. Peter’s transactional practice focuses on representing Indian tribes, tribal entities in financing matters, and commercial and economic development in Indian country.<\/span><\/p>

Peter has considerable experience in all areas of Indian gaming, including Indian lands determinations, federal, state, and tribal regulatory matters, and representation of tribal gaming agencies. He also works on other economic development issues, including land use and leasing, tribal court development, taxation issues, development of tribal laws and regulations, and regularly interacts with the NIGC and the Department of Interior.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Stacy Leeds<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents and Foundation Professor of Law, ASU Law<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Leeds is the Dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Previously she served as\u00a0Foundation Professor of Law and Leadershi<\/a>p at the\u00a0ASU Law. She is a scholar of Indigenous law and policy and an experienced leader in law, higher education, economic development and conflict resolution. She holds law degrees from\u00a0University of Wisconsin<\/a>\u00a0(LL.M.) and\u00a0University of Tulsa<\/a>\u00a0(J.D.), a business degree from\u00a0University of Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0(M.B.A)., and an undergraduate degree in history from\u00a0Washington University in St. Louis<\/a>\u00a0(B.A.).<\/p>

Leeds was the first Indigenous woman to serve as a law school dean. She served as dean of University of Arkansas School of Law (2011-2018) and as the inaugural Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University of Arkansas (2017-2020). She has been a professor and administrator at University of Kansas and University of North Dakota, and a William H. Hastie Fellow at University of Wisconsin. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a recipient of the American Bar Association\u2019s Spirit of Excellence Award.<\/p>

Leeds prioritizes public service at the national and local level. She is a former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice and former Chair of the Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission. She currently serves as a founding board member and treasurer of the Foundation for America\u2019s Public Lands, a congressionally-chartered non-profit. She is a corporate board member for\u00a0Kituwah LLC<\/a>\u00a0(wholly owned business diversification company of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) and board vice-president of\u00a0Native Forward Scholars Fund<\/a>\u00a0(formerly American Indian Graduate Center).<\/p>

Leeds is passionate about food, agriculture and wellness. She co-founded the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative and now serves as board president of\u00a0Akiptan<\/a>\u00a0(a Native CDFI providing capital to farmers and ranchers) and vice-chair of the board of trustee for the\u00a0Native American Agriculture Fund<\/a>\u00a0(a private, charitable trust serving Native farmers and ranchers created from the historic\u00a0Keepseagle v. Vilsack<\/em>\u00a0settlement).<\/p>

\"\"Stephen Roe Lewis<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Governor, Gila River Indian Community of Arizona<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Stephen Roe Lewis was raised in Sacaton, “Gu-u-Ki”, on the Gila River Indian Community. His father is the late Rodney Lewis and mother Willardene Lewis. Mr. Lewis has a son, Daniel currently attending Arizona State University.<\/span><\/p>

Mr. Lewis is in his fourth term serving as Governor of the Community, having previously served as Lt. Governor. Prior to serving in elected leadership, Governor Lewis served the Community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Gila River Healthcare Corporation, as a Gaming Commissioner for the Gila River Gaming Commission, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Gila River Telecommunications, Inc..<\/span><\/p>

Stephen Roe Lewis graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s of Science and pursued graduate studies at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.<\/span><\/p>

Governor Lewis currently oversees the implementation of the Community’s Water Settlement of 2004 (at that time the largest water settlement of its kind in United States history). Governor Lewis advocates for renewable and green technologies guided by O’odham agricultural history and cultural teachings. Governor Lewis’s vision is to support a new generation of Community member agriculturalists with the goal of promoting and protecting the Community’s shudag (water) and agricultural development.<\/span><\/p>

During his tenure as Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, Governor Lewis has brought innovative solutions to long-standing issues that will create long-term gains for the Gila River Indian Community One of these projects, Management Aquifer Recharge sites, brings together the need for access to water while restoring the return of the Community’s riparian area which is vital for farming and the return of wildlife to the Community. Governor Lewis also oversaw the development of the Solar-Over-Canal project which is the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The Community broke ground on this project in 2023 and will generate power and reduce evaporation thereby conserving water. Bringing back the Gila River and water conservation projects, are critical to the culture and identify of the Gila River Indian Community, and have been key milestones during Governor Lewis’ Administration and one that will lay the foundation for future projects across the Community.<\/span><\/p>

In addition, Governor Lewis’ innovation can be seen in his approach to providing educational opportunities for the youth of the Gila River Indian Community. The Community was the first tribal community in the Nation to utilize the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to create a program that revolutionized how infrastructure is constructed and maintained throughout Indian Country. This program, the Section 105(1) program was utilized for education construction in the Community, and the Community is working to expand the uses of the program to other infrastructure in the Community and throughout Indian Country.<\/span><\/p>

Governor Lewis has also prioritized the Community’s Veterans and youth by working to establish the Community’s first Veteran’s and Family Services Department. In 2023, the Community received accreditation as a Veterans Service Organization, only the second to receive such accreditation in Indian Country. Governor Lewis has also committed resources to protect the Community’s children by advocating for the protection of the Indian Child Welfare Act both at home and nationally.<\/span><\/p>

Governor Lewis serves as President of the Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute Board of Directors, on the Executive Board for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), and on the Board of Trustees for the Heard Museum of Phoenix.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"Aurene Martin<\/b><\/a><\/p>

Founder and Managing Partner, Spirit Rock Consulting, Inc.<\/em><\/p>

Aurene Martin is the Managing Partner of Spirit Rock Consulting. A member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, she is also of the Menominee and Oneida descent and grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. She has extensive experience in Federal Indian law and policy, having served in both Tribal government as in-house counsel and in the Federal government in key posts responsible for developing Indian law and policy. She has served in both the United States Congress and the United States Department of Interior.<\/p>

Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Martin had a lengthy career in public service. As a high level political appointee at the Department of the Interior, she originally served as Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. She was elevated to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and served for over a year as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs before leaving the Department.<\/p>

Before joining the Department of the Interior, Ms. Martin was Senior Counsel to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs chaired by U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), where she had a key role in developing legislation involving tribes, particularly in the areas of gaming and health care.<\/p>

Ms. Martin began her career as Senior Staff Attorney of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. As in-house counsel to the Tribe, she handled Indian Child Welfare Act litigation, state legislative affairs and gaming matters, and served on the Tribe’s compact negotiation team in 1998.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Ms. Martin attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Universit\u00e0 di Bologna in Bologna, Italy. She majored in History, Italian and History of Culture and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1993. She is a member of the District of Columbia and Wisconsin State Bar. Ms. Martin has been active in the Wisconsin State Bar Indian law section, having served as an officer of the section.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\"\"Robert J. Miller<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Jonathan and Wendy Rose Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Rosette LLP American Indian Economic Development Program, ASU Law<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Robert J. Miller\u2019s areas of expertise are Federal Indian Law, American Indians and international law, American Indian economic development, Constitutional Law, and Civil Procedure. He is an enrolled citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, the Chief Justice for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Court of Appeals, and he sits as a judge for other tribes. Bob is the Jonathan and Wendy Rose Professor of Law, and in 2019-24 he was the Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar. He is also the Faculty Director of the Rosette LLP American Indian Economic Development Program at ASU.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In 2014, Bob was elected to the American Philosophical Society. In 2024, he was elected to the Governing Council of the Society. The APS is the oldest learned society in the United States and was created by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 for “promoting useful knowledge.” Thomas Jefferson served as president of the APS for seventeen years overlapping his time as president of the United States. The APS has only elected about 5,800 members in its 280 year history.<\/span><\/p>

Before joining ASU in 2013, Miller was on the faculty of Lewis & Clark Law School from 1999-2013. Prior to his career in academia, he practiced Indian law with Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, and litigation with the Stoel Rives law firm. Following graduation from law school, he clerked for Judge Diarmuid O\u2019Scannlain of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.<\/span><\/p>

Professor Miller\u2019s scholarly works include articles, books, book chapters, and editorials on a wide array of Federal Indian Law issues and he speaks regularly on these issues across the U.S. and in other countries. He is the author of “Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and Manifest Destiny” (Praeger 2006), and “Reservation ‘Capitalism’: Economic Development in Indian Country” (Praeger 2012). He co-authored “A Promise Kept: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and McGirt v. Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma Press 2023); “Creating Private Sector Economies in Native America: Sustainable Development through Entrepreneurship” (Cambridge University Press 2019); and “Discovering Indigenous Lands: The Doctrine of Discovery in the English Colonies” (Oxford University Press 2010). Professor Miller has worked as a consultant with the American Philosophical Society since 2006 on tribal language and archival issues. He was elected to the American Law Institute in 2012.<\/span><\/p>

Education<\/span><\/p>