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California Indian Legal Services

California Indian Legal Services
 

CILS News!

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Devon Lee Lomayesva

 

Message from Executive Director
Devon Lee Lomayesva

It is hard to believe that my first year back at CILS has already arrived. This past year has been extremely eventful for CILS. We have experienced some major transitions that all of us here at CILS believe will benefit our Native communities in California.

We started off this year by closing our Oakland office so that the Principal office could be relocated to Escondido and so that we could open a new field office in Sacramento. We also closed our Santa Rosa office, which is now served by the Sacramento location. The relocation of the Principal office has proved successful and we have settled in nicely. It is a pleasure working with the Principal office staff and...

getting to interact with the Escondido field office staff as well. The move to Sacramento has certainly met our communities’ approval. Numerous tribal and individual clients have expressed their feeling that the Sacramento location better serves the Indian communities in that service territory as well as providing CILS staff easy access to the State capitol and all that comes with this major governmental center. Tribal governments have a daily presence in Sacramento and CILS proximity to this local will greatly contribute to the success of the office and CILS overall. Also located in Sacramento are countless federal and state agencies that CILS has engaged with over the years that are vital for our advocacy of our California Indian community.

CILS is also excited to announce the addition of Dorinda Strmiska, our new attorney in our Sacramento office. Dorinda joining our team will certainly increase our ability to better serve our tribal clients. CILS has a host of ongoing projects that Dorinda has wasted no time in getting familiar with as well as reaching out to get to know the Sacramento client community. One of our newest projects is our Tribal Justice Initiative. This project will allow CILS to continue our Tribal Court advocacy work by reaching out to interested tribes to assist them in whatever state of court development they are in. Whether a tribe is starting from the beginning and needs codes and ordinances or whether they are up and running but need assistance with negotiating with local state agencies for cooperative agreements, CILS is available. This project also includes advocacy and assistance with issues related to tribal law enforcement and state and local government relations.

CILS continues our Indian Child Welfare Act advocacy by preparing to release our most recent version of the ICWA Benchguide early next year. We are also working on an ICWA Worker guide for tribal ICWA workers who appear in State court on behalf of tribes. We also continue to provide community education on the American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA) and to draft Wills for Indian individuals who hold trust land or other trust assets. Please look for the next event near you. We are confident these resources and community events will contribute to the betterment of our tribal communities and to CILS’ goal of providing high caliber legal services to California Indians. Again, CILS is enthusiastic about the things to come to the organization.

 

Newsflash

Taxing Indian Country: Regulation 1616

Effective Feb 10, 2012 the California Board of Equalization implements a new law re: Property Used in Tribal Self-Governance

 

CILS Tax Help Is Here

Our popular ICAN! Tax preparation service is underway! Call toll free for assistance 1-800-743-8941 or click on http://icanefile.org/?caller=23 to complete taxes on your own.


 

Questions about the Cobell Settlement?

Contact their toll free number 1-800-961-6109 or visit their website at:

http://www.indiantrust.com/

 

Prevent foreclosure: know your rights!

Click here for more info. 


 

ICWA Benchguide

Link to ICWA Benchguide

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In Memoriam

 

Beth Wylie

July 8, 1963 – January 28, 2012

CILS is very saddened to share that former CILS Legal Assistant, Beth Wylie Gjerstad, passed away on January 28, 2012 after a long and hard-fought battle with stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  Beth began her eight-year tenure with CILS in 2002 and departed in 2010 to devote her strength towards battling the disease. Her warm spirit and dedication to family and friends will always be a source of inspiration for all who knew Beth.  From her first day at CILS, when she wore her stunning navy blue suit, Beth carried herself with professionalism and consistently showed her enthusiasm for our Native client communities.  During her tenure at CILS, Beth assisted our Escondido Office attorneys on countless numbers of cases.  Happy to work behind the scenes Beth could always be counted on for a smile, even on those most difficult days. “During the most stressful times at the office, one smile from Beth and you knew things were going to get better,” remembers a co-worker.  While Beth resided in Southern California for many years, she was fiercely proud of her Seattle roots and had recently moved home to be near her family.  CILS Staff remembers her love of telling a good story, whether it was about her learning experiences at Shoreline Community College where she studied law enforcement, her take on a t.v. episode of Intervention, stories about her dog, Inga, or her latest attempted recipe.  As a single parent, Beth made innumerable sacrifices and always tried to improve as a parent.  She once wrote, “I don't think my kids know how much I really love them and I want to be better at showing that.”  But her love and care, especially of her girls, was most evident.  Beth is survived by her daughters Becca and Sarah, her son Bryan and her grandson Bailey.  A memorial fund to support her daughters is being established in Beth’s honor.  Those who wish to make donations can contact Patricia De La Cruz-Lynas at delacruz@calindian.org.  A memorial service for Beth is currently being planned (details to be posted as appropriate).

Outreach Events

Recent trainings

Sacramento Directing Attorney Alex Cleghorn speaks at Law Day - Hopland Rancheria July 2011

Bishop Advocate Jennifer Duncan holds Simple Estates "California Style" presentation at Walker Senior Center, May 2011. 

Eureka Directing Attorney Delia Parr held a Student Special Education training in Bayside, CA this past April 2011.

CILS Senior Attorney, Dorothy Alther, provides Public Law 280 training to the Karuk Tribal Council & Housing Committee at the Blue Lake Hotel & Casino

CILS staff meet with attendees after Humboldt County District Attorney Public Law 280 training

For information about upcoming outreach events, click here.