Access to Justice in Indian Country Symposium

September 29, 2025

The Native American Law Student Association and the South Dakota Law Review are hosting a joint symposium on Monday, September 29. Panels and presentations will cover areas of restorative justice, tribal and federal Indian Law jurisprudence, criminal law jurisdiction in Indian Country, and much more. The Access to Justice in Indian Country Symposium will be held in Vermillion, South Dakota at the Knudson School of Law, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and is open to the public.

CLE credits for attending the symposium are approved in MN, and applied for in IA and NE.

Schedule of Events

8 – 8:30 a.m. | Symposium Dedication
Director of Tribal Outreach Damon Leader Charge of Sanford School of Medicine, Dean Neil Fulton of Knudson School of Law, Students Sydney Schad & Tia Vlasman of Knudson School of Law

8:30 – 9:20 a.m. | Tribal Wills Panel
Professor Thomas Simmons of Knudson School of Law, Adelita Guerue, Howard Valandra

9:30 – 10:20 a.m. | Federal Intervention Panel
Attorney Lydia Locklear & Fellow Holly James of Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Attorney Andrea Nishi

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Specific Tribal Analysis
Attorney Jill Smith, Author Elaine Yellow Horse, Attorney Nicholas Stamates, Professor Ezra Rosser of American University Washington College of Law, Jennifer W. Kuan of California State University Monterey Bay

12 – 1 p.m. | Lunch
Dakota Plains Legal Services presents “The Justice Bus”
Meal to be provided by the Duck & Cat food truck
Register for Meal

1 – 2:15 p.m. | Restorative Justice Panel
The Honorable Carrie Garrow of Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Court, The Honorable Danielle J. Mayberry for the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, Attorney Johanna Farmer, Attorney Ilse Turner, Attorney Tatewin Means, Grace Carson of University of Tulsa College of Law

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
Panel #1 – United States v. Sioux Nation
Panel #2 – Criminal Law in Indian Country

4 – 4:45 p.m. | Keynote Address
The keynote address will be given by American Bar Association’s Immediate Past President Mary Smith