Upcoming Events
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Special Series, Spring 2026: Conversations with Professor Seth Davis
April 14, 2026
A Conversation with Professor Seth Davis: Criminal Jurisdiction on Tribal Reservations in California
Join us for the final event in the Conversations with Professor Davis series, exploring criminal jurisdiction on Tribal reservations in California. Professor Seth Davis will be joined by Dorothy Alther, Legal Director at California Indian Legal Services, and Greg O’Rourke, Chief of Police for the Yurok Tribe Police Department, for a discussion on the real-world implications of Public Law 280 in California.
This conversation will examine how criminal jurisdiction operates on Tribal lands and what the framework of federal, state, and tribal authority means in practice for Tribal governments, law enforcement, and community safety. Through the perspectives of a leading Federal Indian Law practitioner and a Tribal law enforcement leader, participants will gain insight into how the American criminal legal system functions in Indian Country and how Tribal Nations navigate the jurisdictional landscape in California.
Students, alumni, faculty, and community members are invited to attend and engage in this important discussion.
April 6, 2026
A Conversation with Professor Seth Davis: “The Scandal of Cal” and NAGPRA
Understanding UC Berkeley’s Historical Non-Compliance with the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGRPA).
Join Professor Seth Davis for a conversation examining UC Berkeley’s historical non-compliance with the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act, an issue that has been widely documented and criticized in discussions of the university’s treatment of Indigenous cultural heritage. The discussion will feature Tony Platt, distinguished legal scholar and author, about his book, The Scandal at Cal: Land Grabs, White Supremacy, and Miseducation at UC Berkeley.
Together, they will explore Berkeley’s historical ties to Indigenous land dispossession, the desecration of Native graves, and the broader legal and institutional context surrounding the university’s past failures to comply with federal and state repatriation laws.
March 31, 2026
A Conversation with Professor Seth Davis: Tribal Taxation and Water Rights
What does tribal sovereignty look like in practice — and how does a Tribe exercise its tax authority and protect its water rights.
Join Professor Seth Davis and John Plata, General Counsel for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, in a conversation about tribal taxation and water rights. Hear directly from John Plata, a leading Tribal and Federal Indian Law practitioner on how Tribal governments exercise and defend their sovereign tax authority and water rights. And deepen your understanding of Tribal sovereignty and how the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians navigates their authority in one of the most jurisdictionally complex landscapes in Indian Country. Faculty and students interested in Federal Indian Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, Water Law, Administrative Law, Property, and public interest advocacy will gain rare insight into how doctrine, policy, and tribal leadership intersect to produce meaningful structural change.
March 3, 2026
A Conversation with Professor Seth Davis: Tribal Co-Stewardship of Federal Lands
Join Professor Seth Davis and Native advocates from the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe and the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians for a timely conversation on the Quechan Tribe’s groundbreaking co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management. This historic agreement affirms the Tribe’s authority to steward its ancestral lands and offers a powerful example of tribal self-governance in action.
Through firsthand perspectives, this discussion will explore how government-to-government negotiations are advancing tribal sovereignty, protecting sacred sites, and restoring land through traditional cultural knowledge. Faculty and students interested in Federal Indian Law, environmental law, administrative law, property, and public interest advocacy will gain rare insight into how doctrine, policy, and tribal leadership intersect to produce meaningful structural change.
February 10, 2026
A Conversation with Professor Seth Davis: Tribal Courts & Their Role in the American Legal System
Please join Professor Seth Davis and the Honorable Victorio Shaw for a discussion about tribal court jurisdiction and the role tribal courts play in the American legal system. Attendees will hear from Tribal Court Judge Victorio Shaw about his experiences as a judge and tribal advocate. This conversation will also provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of tribal sovereignty and how tribal courts interface with state and federal systems.
Past Events
Special Event Spotlight
Ceremony and Reception Honoring Graduating Native American Students, 2025
On May 15, 2025, the Center for Indigenous Law & Justice hosted an Honoring Ceremony and Reception at the UC Botanical Garden celebrating the graduating members of NALSA and Native American students at Berkeley Law. NALSA Co-Presidents Camryn Valetta Towle and Amber Frank opened the afternoon with heartfelt remarks, welcoming graduates, their families, and the community into a space of celebration and reflection.
The program featured Professor Seth Davis’s personal tributes to each graduate, a slideshow capturing their journeys through law school and NALSA, and a traditional Blanket Ceremony—a deeply significant tradition in many tribal communities that symbolizes respect, protection, and the graduates’ transition into the next chapter of their lives. Each graduate was wrapped in a blanket as the community recognized their accomplishments and the hopes they carry forward for their families and Nations. This year’s honorees included Mackenzie Gettel (Iowa Nation), Dylan Good (Maidu), Grace Li (Modoc Nation Descendant), Robin Martinez (Navajo), Joseph Ross (Cherokee Nation), Washakie Tibbetts (White Earth Ojibwe & Wind River Shoshone), and Lucas White Moon (Gros Ventre).
Assemblymember James C. Ramos—the first California Native American elected to the California State Legislature—delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of defending tribal sovereignty and promoting Native self-determination. Reflecting on historical challenges and ongoing legislative efforts, he inspired graduates and guests alike. The Center also honored Assemblymember Ramos, Terri Ramos, and Joseph Lindsay for their lasting contributions to Native students and communities. Executive Director Merri Lopez-Keifer presented each honoree with a blanket, recognizing Terri Ramos as “a pillar of strength in her family and community,” while Joseph Lindsay was celebrated as “a powerful advocate and mentor for Native American students,” whose guidance has instilled “confidence, purpose, and belonging.”
Acting Dean of Admissions Joseph Lindsay closed the celebration with a message of pride and encouragement, sending graduates forward with gratitude and collective support. This gathering reflected the essential roles of family and community in every graduate’s success, honoring their collective resilience and the enduring bonds that sustain tribal communities.
October 15-16, 2025
Advancing Tribal Sovereignty and Justice: A Landmark Two-Day In-Person Gathering
This event centers on collaboration among sovereigns, respect for Indigenous legal systems, and advancing tribal sovereignty and justice for tribal communities.
October 15: Navajo Nation Supreme Court Oral Argument. Experience the Navajo Nation Supreme Court in a rare live oral argument session, showcasing Indigenous law in action.
October 16: Three Sovereigns, One Conversation. Join judges from Tribal, State, and Federal courts for a historic roundtable discussing joint jurisdiction in Indian Country, exploring shared principles, challenges, and innovative partnerships across sovereign justice systems.
More Past Events
Spring 2025
50th Annual Indian Law Conference Attendance
CILJ sponsored NALSA to attend the Federal Bar Association’s 50th Annual Indian Law Conference in Albuquerque, NM.
November 15, 2024
New Voices in Citizenship, Democracy, & Indigenity Workshop
November 1, 2024
Panel Discussion with EPA Officials: Careers in Environmental Law & Justice
October 18, 2024
A Conversation with Judge Sunshine Sykes
October 17, 2024
A Conversation with Professor Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese
March 11, 2024
Justice, the Law, & Storytelling: A Conversation with Yurok Chief Judge Abby Abinanti & New Yorker Journalist Sarah Stillman
Other Events of Interest (not at Berkeley Law)
September 3, 2025
Judicial Council of California – Safer Together: Implementing Firearms Policies
CILJ Executive Director Merri Lopez-Keifer will speak during the Plenary Session on Navigating Jurisdiction in Indian Country: Collaborative Approaches to Firearm Regulation and Public Safety.
September 19, 2025
Judicial Council of California – Improving Access to Justice Through Recognition & Enforcement of Tribal Court Orders
CILJ Executive Director Merri Lopez-Keifer will present and lead a discussion on the cross-jurisdictional enforcement of domestic violence and other protective orders recognized under the Violence Against Women Act. Topics include the scope of required recognition and enforcement, challenges faced, and potential solutions to improve access to justice.