Final Seminar Agenda Now Available- Note New Times!

You can now see the final agenda for the Leadership Forum seminar in Washington, D.C. by visiting the event website at http://www.afnevents.org/leadershipforum/agenda.html

One of the highlights of this half-day seminar will be a roundtable discussion on the history of Native Americans and their relations with the United States. Participants will discuss how policies can change to better accommodate cultural and economic development within Native communities. The group will be invited to share concrete examples of Native American success in the emerging knowledge-based economy.

Less than two weeks remain to register for this exciting free seminar, which is being held in conjunction with the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Registration is easy. Just go to the website and click on the Register button on the left side of the page. Space is limited to 250 people, so be sure to arrive early to ensure a seat in the room!

Native Rights Attorney Jerry Straus to Participate in Roundtable

Jerry Straus, a Partner with the Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker firm in Washington, D.C., has agreed to join us for the roundtable discussion on cultural and economic development in Native communities.

Mr. Straus has specialized in Indian law since 1963, and in that time, he has led several successful legislative efforts to help tribes regain their rights. He helped return the 48,000-acre Blue Lake land to the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico in 1970. More recently, Straus helped the Seminole Tribe of Florida successfully negotiate a landmark water rights compact with the state of Florida. He worked for two years for the U.S. Department of Justice before starting his Indian law career. Straus is a graduate of Columbia University Law School.

Jerry Straus was honored in 2003 at the Alaska Federation of Natives' annual convention for his lifetime of service in furthering Native issues.