The Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation

• Background• 1868 Treaty• Right to Exclude – Williams v. Lee• Education

Frye Law Firm, P.C.http://www.fryelaw.us

Congressional Treatment circa 1950

• 1947 Appropriation• Utah Land Exchange/Airport (1949)• Navajo-Hopi Rehabilitation Act (1950)• 25 U.S.C. § 633• Subsequent amendments• Austin v. Andrus (1981)• NN v US (2009)


1964 Civil Rights Act – Title VII

• “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” discrimination

• Mundt amendment (“Indian preference programs now in operation or later to be instituted”)

• 1988 Guidance (per Thomas)• 638 amendment (1994)


Early Navajo Nation Initiatives

• Tribal preference guidelines (1973)• Department of Labor position• U.S. Commission on Civil Rights position

(1975)• EEOC involvement (SRP settlement)


DOI Leasing

• IMLA, Long-term Leasing Act, Rehabilitation Act

• Austin v. Andrus (1981)• S. Udall deposition

Frye Law Firm, P.C.http://fryelaw.us

Judicial Backdrop

• Dawavendewa I (1998)• cert. denied

• Karuk (2001)• Dawavendewa II (2002)• cert. denied


Peabody I (D. Ct.)

• Rule 19 dismissal – Navajo Nation absent


Peabody II (9th Cir.)

• Reversal: EEOC join Navajo Nation if no affirmative relief sought against it• cert. denied


Peabody III (D. Ct.)

• Rule 19 dismissal – EEOC indeed sought affirmative relief against Navajo Nation

• Rule 19 dismissal – Secretary of Interior absent• National trusteeship policies• Leasing Regulations• Consistent Practice


Peabody IV (9th Cir.)

• Ignore EEOC’s pleadings• Secretary can be impleaded under Rule 14 • cert. denied


Peabody V (D. Ct.)

• Peabody impleaded Secretary• Secretary’s position – consistent with

Solicitor General’s position


Peabody VI (9th Cir.)

• Argued May 2014• Strong Federal brief


Documents

The Navajo Nation