The state of California is home to 108 federally recognized Native American tribes and approximately 84 non-recognized tribes. Federally recognized and non-federally recognized Native American tribes both have unique political governments. Non-federally recognized tribes continue to practice their traditional Native American forms of government, and lack official recognition from the United States government. Federally recognized tribes have Native American governmental authority over their lands. For purposes of this guide, LD-IGR addresses governments under the jurisdictions of federally recognized tribes. (more…)

Native American tribes are now emerging from centuries of indifferent, hostile, and complex regulation by outside authorities. Native Tribes are recovering self-determination, and developing tribal sovereignty. Tribal governments must deal with complex legal issues, caused by economic development, tribal politics, and cultural expression, as well as legal and policy issues caused by interactions with non-tribal members, businesses and government. (more…)

If you own property on leased Indian land in Riverside County you may have received a mailing recently from two law firms offering their services in helping you receive a tax refund from the county. The mailing helps leaseholders with an important tax question that has weighed on the (more…)

Bryan Newland recently wrote an article on Turtle Talk about a case that is under the California Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, hereinafter IGRA. It is a suit seeking to require negotiations for a class II gaming activity on Indian lands controlled by the Big Lagoon Ranchereia, an Indian Tribe. The decision against the Tribe and in favor of the State is what has intrigued us. (more…)

The Basics of Client-Lawyer Privilege

If you think that you need a Coachella Valley litigation attorney, it is very important to make sure that you know the difference between privilege and unprivileged information before you begin. Privilege does protect you as a client, but it only extends a certain distance and you want to make sure that you do not give away something that is very important to your case. Movie and television law is not enough to educate you, it is important to keep reading to find out specifics about lawyer-client privilege. (more…)

New Tribal Land Law Regulations

Local taxing regulations in Palm Springs will be seriously affected when a federal regulation that governs tribal land surface rights is changed. The impact will be especially significant in western Coachella Valley where property holdings usually require negotiations between different local governments and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. (more…)

Indian Trust Administration and Reform Report

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, named five Native American Indians to look into the way the Native American’s trust funds are being handled/managed. These funds have almost $4 billion dollars in them. This has all been done because President Obama is committed to ensuring that these trust funds are handled in a responsible manner. (more…)

Indian tribes are unified under one government, or type of leadership. In America, even though the federal government may not recognize a certain people group, a particular state may officially recognize an Indian group. The process of official group recognition can be challenging. Legislatures and courts often get into the action of determining whether a specific group of Indians can be recognized. If a group is to be officially recognized, the history and control of territory are issues that need to be dealt with. (more…)

Our Palm Springs business litigation law firm has followed the upcoming Indian gaming bill in hot dispute. As of January 1, 2015, there may be websites that have legal, cyberspace poker gambling in the state of California. It’s forthcoming since eight California Indian tribes drew up a bill to endorse and modulate Internet poker in California. (more…)