Annual TICA Conference
2026 Agenda
October 28-30 | Temecula, CA
The activity is approved for 11.5 California MCLE participatory credits including 9.5 general credit and 2.0 credit in ethics in the practice of law. MCLE Credit provided by California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC).
All times listed in PT
Pre-Conference | October 28, 2026
The activity is approved for 3.0 hours of California MCLE participatory credit, including 1.5 hours of general credit and 1.5 hours in Recognition and Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and Society. MCLE Credit provided by California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC).
The Model State ICWA Statute: What You Need to Know
Moderators
Attorney Practice Standards when Representing Tribes in ICWA Cases
Moderators
Day 1 | October 29, 2026
Keynote: The Future of Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Advocacy in an Era of Automated Legal Reasoning
In our 2026 keynote presentation, Steve Bodmer will address the evolving role of tribal attorneys in Native law as AI becomes ubiquitous. He will discuss the legal implications of AI bias, ethical responsibility when using AI, tribal control and governance of its tribal knowledge, and much more. The discussion will include how tribal attorneys can use AI tools effectively, rather than surrendering professional judgment to them.
Moderator
Tribal Responses to ICE Interactions and Navigating Tribal Nations’ Relationships with ICE and CBP
With the recent rise in ICE and CBP interactions with Indian Country, Allison Neswood, Beth Margaret Wright, and OJ Flores will provide refreshed guidance for Tribal citizens and Tribal Nations. The panel will also address how legal practitioners are holding ICE accountable for unlawful conduct, cover policy responses to the increase in ICE interactions, and provide insight into how certain Tribal Nations have navigated longstanding relationships with ICE and CBP.
Moderator
Executing Effective Investigations in Tribal Communities
Join Krystalyn Kinsel, Charlie Galbraith, and Kimberly A. Dutcher for a session focused on best practices for investigations both internal and external to Tribal Communities. The panelists will discuss how to structure, launch, and execute an effective investigation while considering topics such as privilege, retaliation, liability, and conflicts of interest.
Moderator
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.
Developments in Tribal, State, and Federal Laws that Protect Indian Families
In this session, April Olson, Kate Fort, Joy Parker, and Riley Plumer will explore the coordination and intersection of tribal, state, and federal laws designed to protect Indian children and preserve families. The panel will cover developments in case law involving placement preferences and standing, tribal jurisdiction, existing state ICWAs, and the effort to get a Uniform Law Commission (ULC) model act on Indian child welfare.
Moderator
Day 2 | October 30, 2026
Practical Approaches to Strengthening Sovereignty through Intergovernmental Agreements and Expanded Tribal Court Reach
Tribal governments navigate a complex jurisdictional crossroads where municipal boundaries, non-tribal interests, and competing regulatory authority intersect with tribal lands and sovereignty. Join Rahsaan J. Tilford and Rachel Saimons for a discussion about actionable tools to negotiate robust intergovernmental agreements, reinforce tribal legal frameworks, and proactively defend sovereignty.
Tribal Court Forms and Subpoenas – How Tribes Preserve Sovereign Immunity When Responding to Requests from Federal, State, and Local Governments for Tribal Property or Tribal-Employee Testimony
Redding Rancheria has successfully created a Tribal Court Form that U.S. attorneys, the local District Attorney and Public Defender, and other third-party attorneys use to request and potentially obtain tribal property or tribal employee testimony. With this approach, the tribe preserves sovereign immunity while cooperating with federal, state, and local governments. Join Chantal Reyes, Heaven Collins, and Michael Hollowell for an interactive session which will include a refresher on sovereign immunity and a robust discussion surrounding the use of Tribal Court Forms and Tribal Court Subpoenas.
Moderator
When the Breach Hits: Legal, Operational, and Sovereignty Considerations for Tribal Nations
Cyber incidents are no longer hypothetical for Tribal Nations—they are an operational, legal, and governance reality. Join Evan Wolff, Jody Cummings, and Jenny Patten Magallanes for an interactive session that explores and simulates how tribal governments can prepare for, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents while navigating the unique legal landscape shaped by tribal sovereignty, jurisdictional complexity, and resource constraints.
Moderator
Tribal Code Drafting, Part 1 - Ethics
The University of Washington School of Law Native American Law Center (UW NALC) is building a code drafting clinic to support Tribes with developing effective codes, including a Tribal attorney’s code drafting deskbook. Monte Mills, Eric Eberhard, and Avey Menard will discuss the canons of statutory interpretation, the rudiments of code drafting, and best practices for code drafting in the distinct context of Tribal law.
Moderator
Tribal Code Drafting, Part 2 - Ethics
The University of Washington School of Law Native American Law Center (UW NALC) is building a code drafting clinic to support Tribes with developing effective codes, including a Tribal attorney’s code drafting deskbook. Monte Mills, Eric Eberhard, and Avey Menard will discuss the canons of statutory interpretation, the rudiments of code drafting, and best practices for code drafting in the distinct context of Tribal law.