Kanji & Katzen P.L.L.C.

On July 28, 2026, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Tribal Court of Appeals issued an Opinion and Order in White Earth Division of Natural Resources (WEDNR) v. David Vipond, Appeal No. AP2025-00003, Tribal Court Case No. GC 2023-00001. The Court of Appeals held that the White Earth Nation had regulatory jurisdiction to enact the White Earth Reservation Groundwater and Surface Water Protection Ordinance, which requires a tribal permit for high-capacity pumps and wells on the White Earth Reservation, and further held that the Tribal Court has adjudicative jurisdiction over WEDNR’s claim to enforce the Ordinance against Defendant David Vipond, a non-member.  The Court of Appeals found that high-capacity pumps and wells, like Mr. Vipond’s proposed appropriation from the Wild Rice River, imperil the fish, rice, and other aquatic resources critical to tribal members’ subsistence, and thus the Nation’s exercise of jurisdiction falls squarely within the second basis for tribal jurisdiction in Montana v. United States, 450 U.S. 544 (1981). Read the full decision here [hyperlink to attached]. Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. represents WEDNR in the Tribal Court action. The firm also represents WEDNR’s divisional director in a related federal court action, where the Eighth Circuit ordered Mr. Vipond to exhaust his tribal court remedies before pursuing a challenge to the Nation’s jurisdiction in federal court. See Vipond v. DeGroat, 166 F.4th 694 (8th Cir. 2026)

Link: WE Court Appeals Opinion & Order

The White Earth Reservation Groundwater and Surface Water Protection Ordinance requires all new high-capacity pumps and wells on the Reservation to be permitted by the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The White Earth Reservation Business Committee enacted the Ordinance to safeguard the waters, fisheries, wild rice, and other natural resources—resources that were guaranteed to the Band by treaty in 1867 and that sustain hundreds of Tribal members’ subsistence lifestyle—from the devastating effects of high-capacity water appropriations, primarily by non-Indian agricultural interests. On March 5, 2025, in Vipond v. DeGroat, 24-cv-03125 (D. Minn.), U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied the plaintiff irrigator’s motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin ongoing White Earth Tribal Court proceedings in which the Band seeks a declaration that the irrigator’s proposal to pump 65 million gallons of water each summer from the Wild Rice River is validly subject to tribal regulatory authority. Judge Menendez stayed the federal case pending the exhaustion of tribal court remedies. And on March 21, 2025, in R.D. Offutt Farms Co. v. White Earth Division of Natural Resources, 24-cv-01600 (D. Minn.), U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan dismissed an industrial potato producer’s challenge to the Ordinance for lack of jurisdiction. Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. represents the White Earth Division of Natural Resources and its divisional director in the cases.

On March 19, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) and other industry trade groups against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The lawsuit challenged human health criteria that EPA promulgated for Washington waters to address pollution that has resulted in fish consumption advisories across the state. AWB argued that these federal water quality standards were too stringent because they correctly recognized that Washingtonians eat more fish than citizens in many other states (i.e., fish consumption rate of 175 g/day) and required that PCBs pose no greater risk of cancer to the population of Washington than any other toxic pollutant (i.e., cancer risk level of one in one million). The District Court dismissed the case as moot after the State of Washington adopted the federal human health criteria into state law and EPA approved the criteria under the Clean Water Act. Five Tribes and the State of Washington intervened in the lawsuit to defend the protective federal human health criteria and moved to dismiss the case as moot once they were adopted into state law.

Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. represents the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and Puyallup Tribe of Indians in Association of Washington Business v. EPA, No. 23-cv-03605 (DLF).

A copy of the decision can be found here.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the other members of the Port Gamble Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council have reached a settlement with the owners of the site of a former sawmill at the mouth of the bay to build two habitat restoration projects that are valued at nearly $10 million.

For 142 years, starting in 1853, Pope & Talbot, Inc. operated a sawmill on the property, which released hazardous substances into Port Gamble Bay that were harmful to fish, shellfish, migratory birds, and other organisms. In 2014, the Trustee Council was formed to assess harm to natural resources in the bay and to seek compensation for that harm. The Trustee Council includes the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the Skokomish Indian Tribe, the Suquamish Tribe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (representing the U.S. Department of the Interior), and the State of Washington (led by the Department of Ecology).

The settlement requires the current and former property owners, Pope Resources, OPG Properties LLC, and OPG Port Gamble LLC, to restore approximately nine acres of riparian habitat along the southern shoreline of the mill site, which will include removing hardscape, installing an intertidal cap, restoring the beach to near-natural slopes, and planting native vegetation. Additionally, the property owners will place sand cover and plant eelgrass over at least eleven acres of subtidal areas on the western side of the bay. The property owners will also provide funding for long-term maintenance and monitoring and permanent stewardship of the southern mill site to preserve the benefits of the habitat restoration in perpetuity. Approximately 30 acres in and around the bay will also be protected by easements that will prohibit activities that could harm the habitat projects.

The settlement, which takes the form of a Consent Decree, was approved by the United States District Court in the Western District of Washington on September 23, 2024. John Sledd, Jane Steadman, Reed Bienvenu, and other members of the Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. team have represented the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in connection with this matter for well over a decade. Kanji & Katzen congratulates the Tribe and the Trustee Council on this historic achievement, which will have tremendous benefits for Port Gamble Bay and for the people and wildlife that make the bay their home.

Further information about the Consent Decree can be found in the links below.

https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2024/proposed-settlement-reached-to-restore-habitats-in-port-gamble-bay

https://www.law360.com/articles/1881859/feds-mill-owner-reach-1-4m-deal-in-pollution-cleanup-row

“The looming question of whether the state has authority to tax the income of citizens of the Five Tribes who live and work within their reservation boundaries could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, Oklahoma Supreme Court justices and parties’ attorneys hinted during oral arguments today in Stroble v. Oklahoma Tax Commission.”

Article written by Tristan Loveless linked below:

During Stroble arguments, Oklahoma Supreme Court hints at SCOTUS appeal (nondoc.com)

On February 21, 2023, the Western District of Washington dismissed a lawsuit brought by Maverick Gaming LLC, the owner of several cardrooms in Washington, which challenged tribal gaming in Washington and sought to invalidate the Tribal-State class III gaming compacts negotiated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Maverick argued that the compacts violate equal protection and are invalid because Maverick is not permitted to offer the same class III games as the Tribes. The District Court ruled that the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe was a required party to the lawsuit that could not be joined due to its sovereign immunity, and therefore dismissal was required under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 and 12(b)(7). The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe had intervened in the lawsuit for the limited purpose of moving to dismiss Maverick’s claims on these grounds. Seventeen other Tribes in Washington jointly filed an amicus brief in support of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe’s motion to dismiss, which the District Court cited in its decision.

Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C. represents the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, which was one of the Tribes that led the filing of the tribal amicus brief.

A copy of the decision can be found at the link below:

https://turtletalk.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/98-dct-order.pdf

In Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, 142 S. Ct. 2486 (2022), decided June 29, 2022, the United States Supreme Court announced an important new rule regarding state criminal jurisdiction within the territory of Indian tribes.

In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that states have the authority to prosecute crimes that occur in Indian country where the perpetrator is a non-Indian and the victim is an Indian. (“Indian” is a term of art used for jurisdictional purposes under federal law.) As stated by Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “Unless preempted, States may exercise jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians within Indian country.” 142 S. Ct. at 2504 n.9.

This decision significantly alters the jurisdictional rules that have long been understood to govern tribal lands. Prior to Castro-Huerta, the prevailing view was that states only possessed jurisdiction over two types of crimes in Indian country: (1) crimes by non-Indians against other non-Indians, and (2) victimless crimes by non-Indians. Crimes involving Indians—either as perpetrators or victims—were believed to lie exclusively within the jurisdiction of the federal government or Indian tribes.

Castro-Huerta adds a third category of crimes in Indian country to the states’ jurisdiction: crimes by non-Indians against Indians. Specifically, the Court ruled that the states’ jurisdiction over these crimes is “concurrent” with that of the federal government. 142 S. Ct. at 2491. Justice Kavanaugh also noted that “[t]he Court’s holding is an interpretation of federal law, which applies throughout the United States.” 142 S. Ct. at 2504 n.9. The result of the Castro-Huerta decision is thus a substantial expansion of state criminal jurisdiction over tribal lands across the country.

Here in New Mexico, however, the effect of Castro-Huerta is likely to be more limited, due to a federal law known as the Indian Pueblo Land Act Amendments of 2005 (the “2005 IPLAA”), Pub. L. No. 109-133, 119 Stat. 2573 (codified at 25 U.S.C. § 331 Note). This law specifically defines the scope of state criminal jurisdiction within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblos’ Spanish land grants. As a result, Congress appears to have preempted any expansion of state criminal jurisdiction under Castro-Huerta on these Pueblo lands.

To understand the 2005 IPLAA, it is useful to know the unique history of the Pueblos’ landholdings. During the period of Spanish control over New Mexico, the Spanish recognized a minimum entitlement of land for each Pueblo, referred to as a “Pueblo league,” of about 17,350 acres. See Malcolm Ebright, Rick Hendricks & Richard W. Hughes, Four Square Leagues: Pueblo Indian Lands in New Mexico 11 (2014). After the United States took over New Mexico, a number of Pueblos possessed documents that purported to be Spanish land grants giving them a Pueblo league or, in some cases, a substantially larger area. Id. 205–34. Congress confirmed the Pueblos’ titles to the land identified in many of those written grants and recognized Pueblo leagues for the rest. Id.; see also United States v. Sandoval, 231 U.S. 28, 39 (1913). Today, these Spanish grant lands comprise the Pueblos’ core landholdings. But within the exterior boundaries of many of these grants are lands that were taken or purchased from the Pueblos, which are now owned by non-Indians.

It has long been established that the Pueblos’ lands are “Indian country” for purposes of federal criminal jurisdiction. However, around the year 2000, questions arose as to whether lands owned by non-Indians within the Pueblos’ land grants also constituted Indian country. See United States v. Antonio, 936 F.3d 1117, 1121 (10th Cir. 2019). Congress responded to this uncertainty by passing the 2005 IPLAA, which was intended to “resolve the question of criminal jurisdiction” over Pueblo lands and also to “avoid checkerboard jurisdiction.” United States v. Smith, 482 F. Supp. 3d 1164, 1170 (D.N.M. 2020).

The 2005 IPLAA states:

SEC. 20. CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided by Congress, jurisdiction over offenses committed anywhere within the exterior boundaries of any grant from a prior sovereign, as confirmed by Congress or the Court of Private Land Claims to a Pueblo Indian tribe of New Mexico, shall be as provided in this section.

(b) JURISDICTION OF THE PUEBLO.—The Pueblo has jurisdiction, as an act of the Pueblos’ inherent power as an Indian tribe, over any offense committed by a member of the Pueblo or an Indian as defined in title 25, sections 1301(2) and 1301(4), or by any other Indian-owned entity.

(c) JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.—The United States has jurisdiction over any offense described in chapter 53 of title 18, United States Code, committed by or against an Indian as defined in title 25, sections 1301(2) and 1301(4) or any Indian owned entity, or that involves any Indian property or interest.

(d) JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.—The State of New Mexico shall have jurisdiction over any offense committed by a person who is not a member of a Pueblo or an Indian as defined in title 25, sections 1301(2) and 1301(4), which offense is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

25 U.S.C. § 331 Note (emphasis added).

The final phrase of paragraph (d)—“which offense is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States”—appears to exempt from state criminal jurisdiction any crime that is subject to federal jurisdiction. Id. And paragraph (c) expressly recognizes federal jurisdiction over any offense “committed by or against an Indian,” that is found in Chapter 53 of Title 18 of the United States Code. Id. (emphasis added). That chapter includes the Indian Country Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1152, which, in conjunction with the Assimilative Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 13, incorporates the criminal laws of the states into federal law for acts committed in Indian country. See United States v. Langford, 641 F.3d 1195, 1197 (10th Cir. 2011).

In combination, these two provisions of the 2005 IPLAA appear to preempt the application of Castro-Huerta within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblos’ land grants by giving the federal government exclusive jurisdiction over crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians within this territory. In other words, due to an act of Congress predating Castro-Huerta by almost two decades, the State of New Mexico is likely prohibited from prosecuting crimes by non-Indians against Indians on most Pueblo lands.

Importantly, there are also many tribal lands in New Mexico that do not fall within the scope of the 2005 IPLAA because they are not “within the exterior boundaries of any grant from a prior sovereign.” 25 U.S.C. § 331 Note. The 2005 IPLAA would not affect the reach of Castro-Huerta on such lands.

Most significantly, the reservations of the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the Mescalero Apache Tribe do not originate from Spanish land grants. There might, however, be other laws or treaties that affect how Castro-Huerta applies to criminal jurisdiction on these reservations. Notably, Justice Neil Gorsuch’s dissent in Castro-Huerta stated that the 1868 Treaty between the Navajo Nation and the United States “appear[s] to promise tribal freedom from state criminal jurisdiction in express terms.” 142 S. Ct. at 2526.

Further complicating things, some Pueblos also have trust lands that are outside of the boundaries of their Spanish land grants. Castro-Huerta could be determined to apply to the Pueblos’ trust lands but not their Spanish grants lands, resulting in a confusing situation where state criminal jurisdiction varies on different parcels of land held by a single Pueblo.

Given the complexity of these issues, state officials in New Mexico should be cautious when exercising jurisdiction over crimes committed in Indian country by non-Indians against Indians, and they should consult with legal counsel to determine whether Castro-Huerta applies on the specific tribal lands involved. Pueblos and Tribes in New Mexico should also communicate with state officials to ensure that those officials are aware of any legal limitations that apply to Castro-Huerta within their respective territories.

This article was published in the 2022 Issue of the “Indian Law Times,” the newsletter for the State Bar of New Mexico Indian Law Section, which is available here.

Reed C. Bienvenu is a member of the Board of the State Bar of New Mexico Indian Law Section. Kanji & Katzen P.L.L.C. represented the Muscogee Nation in connection with an amicus brief filed in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta.

The Suquamish Tribe and King County, Washington have approved a settlement agreement resolving disputes over the unpermitted discharge of millions of gallons of untreated or improperly treated sewage over several years from the West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and other sewage treatment facilities in Seattle.  The sewage spills had repeatedly contaminated the waters of Puget Sound, preventing Tribal citizens from exercising their right to harvest shellfish under the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot, and interfering with cultural activities such as the annual Canoe Journey.  Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C., on behalf of the Suquamish Tribe, notified King County of its intent to sue in 2020 and 2021 for numerous violations of the Clean Water Act.  Under the settlement, the County will pay the Tribe $2.5 million for harm caused by the spills, will invest $2.4 million in environmental protection and habitat restoration projects, and will comply with an enforceable schedule to complete wastewater treatment infrastructure upgrades to reduce the risk of future untreated sewage discharges.  Kanji & Katzen congratulates the Tribe on this historic achievement for the benefit of everyone who treasures Puget Sound.  The Tribe’s press release regarding the settlement and interview with Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe, and Tom Ostrom, the Tribe’s Ecosystem Program Recovery Manager, can be found in the links below.

https://www.kuow.org/stories/after-years-of-sewage-spills-king-county-settles-tribal-lawsuit-agrees-to-plant-upgrades.

https://suquamish.nsn.us/king-county-unanimously-approves-settlement-with-suquamish-tribe-over-sewage-spill-dispute/