NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Indian Law in California
Governor’s Tribal Advisor Discusses Her Efforts for State’s Indigenous People It’s a simple equation: More people equals more aspects of the law that need to be addressed. When you apply this to the country’s most populous state, California, the increase can seem exponential. Then consider the needs of major affinity groups in that state and the issue becomes even more daunting. One of these groups was the focus of a firmwide Nov. 10 webinar during Native American Heritage John Haney Christina Snider Month. It was moderated by Associate and Native Affinity Group Chair, John Haney (LAX), a member of the firm’s Native American Law Team for whom the topic is near and dear. His father served as chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, his mother is an attorney who practices Indian law and his brother is in-house counsel for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in California, a firm client. The guest speaker was Christina Snider, a tribal advisor to California Gov. Gavin Newsom who discussed her role as liaison between the state’s 109 recognized Native American tribes and the seat of power in Sacramento. Also executive secretary of the state’s Native
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American Heritage Commission (NAHC), Ms. Snider shared the balancing act that all involved are working to achieve. “We are all trying to figure out how to work together better in a way that is mutually respectful and understanding of the cultural values being brought to the table. And not just the cultural values, but also the economic, community and environmental priorities,” Ms. Snider said. “As it is now, the obligation is again under the governor’s executive order, and it’s an affirmative obligation to all of the agencies under the governor’s authority.” New Position, Old Issues Ms. Snider, who was a classmate of John’s at the UCLA School of Law, was named the state’s tribal advisor in 2018. Created through executive order by then-Gov. Jerry Brown only 10 years ago, the cabinet-level role is designed to serve as a policy driver for the governor and administration, as well as a diplomacy vehicle for the state’s tribes. The latter aspect requires her to “communicate constantly with tribal nations in the state” on areas of the law that affect them.
