About the Institute

The Tribal Law and Policy Institute is an Indian owned and operated non-profit corporation organized to design and develop education, research, training, and technical assistance programs which promote the enhancement of justice in Indian country and the health, well-being, and culture of Native peoples.

California Staff

The Tribal Law and Policy Institute
8235 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 211
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 650-5467 ~ Fax: (323) 650-8149

  • Jerry Gardner (Cherokee), Executive Director
  • Heather Valdez Singleton, Program Director
  • Jessica Harjo (San Carlos Apache), Operations Director
  • Chia Halpern Beetso (Spirit Lake Dakota), Tribal Court Specialist
  • Lauren van Schilfgaarde (Cochiti Pueblo), Tribal Law Specialist
  • Kelly Stoner (Cherokee), Victim Advocacy Legal Specialist
  • Chad Jackson (Cocopah), Administrative Assistant
  • Naomi Miguel (Tohono O’odham), Program Assistant
  • Terrilena Dodson (Navajo), Graphics Specialist
  • Kori Cordero (White Mountain Apache), Tribal Justice Specialist
  • Rebecca Macarro (Luiseño), Administrative Assistant
  • Jan Langer, Staff Accountant
  • Lou Sgroi, Webmaster

Alaska Office

Please note that the Institute’s Alaska office was closed due to the loss of funding for the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Children’s Justice Act (CJA) Technical Assistance (TA) grant that had funded the Alaska office.

Minnesota Staff

Tribal Law and Policy Institute
161 Marie Ave. E
St Paul, MN 55118
(651) 644-1145 ~ Fax: (651) 644-1157

  • Bonnie Clairmont (Ho-Chunk), Victim Advocacy Specialist
  • Maureen White Eagle (Ojibwe/Cree/Metis), Tribal Advocacy Legal Specialist
  • April Russel (Ho-Chunk/Rosebud Lakota), Program Assistant

Montana Staff

Capacity Building Center for Tribes (CBC for Tribes)
501 N. Sanders St., Suite 2
Helena, MT 59601

  • Kathy Deserly, CBC for Tribes Co-Project Director
  • Elizabeth Deserly (Kickapoo), Capacity Building Coordination Specialist
  • Maria Alidio, CBC for Tribes Administrative Manager

Nevada Staff

Capacity Building Center for Tribes
3097 Harrison Unit #207
Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

  • Joe Walker (Delaware), Tailored and Permanency Projects Manager, Phone: (323) 553-1171
  • Suzanne Garcia, Tribal Child Welfare Specialist, Phone: (775) 781-3473
  • Art Martinez (Chumash), Senior Advisor for Tribal Capacity Building Services
  • Sonja Ulrich, Collaborative Coordination Specialist