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Ben Swankier is the General Counsel for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. He is a direct descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He has been with the Band for almost five years in various roles. As General Counsel, he oversees all of the legal issues the Band faces and fights vigorously to uphold their sovereign rights.
Presenting in the following sessions:
Thursday
Oct 29, 2026
6:15 PM
Session 4
1.25 MCLE
Tribal PFAS Litigation - Working with Outside Counsel
Although PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have been used for decades in manufacturing, firefighting, and consumer products, we’ve only recently started to discover the adverse consequences of exposure. Emily Harwell, Benjamin Swankier, and Amanda Saunders will explore how the use of PFAS threatens the health of Tribal citizens and Tribal natural resources, and how Tribes have navigated litigation.
Moderating the following sessions:
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