Third Annual Tribal Government E-Commerce CLE Conference: Sovereignty and E-Commerce: Innovating and Reshaping the Borders of Indian Country

Many Native American tribes in the United States have recently become involved in pursuing business operated over the internet, thus relieving some of the physical realities of modern, yet still remote, Indian Country. These e-commerce opportunities have not only created thriving economies, but they have also led to a tangled web of legal issues where state, tribal and federal laws and policies are colliding. The quick growth of e-commerce in Indian Country has outpaced a general understanding of how Tribal Digital Sovereignty and E-Commerce law is intertwined with federal Indian law especially as it may relate to states’ rights.

The goal of this conference is to explore the legal issues surrounding the development of e-commerce in Indian Country, including: jurisdictional complexities and the necessity of fostering open dialogue with federal and state counterparts, the changing political landscape,  the possible implications to tribal sovereignty, and the ongoing need for tribes to build infrastructures that facilitate economic growth on their reservations while complying with appropriate federal guidelines. I-gaming experts and tribal entrepreneurs in varied fields will share strategies and practices of diverse business models of current and for future e-commerce/infrastructure enterprises.

This conference will bring together tribal leaders and government officials, lawyers practicing in Indian Country, on- and off-reservation economic planning and development experts, business and finance specialists, virtual casino managers and executives, online vendors and entrepreneurs, regulatory experts and cutting‐edge scholars to explore the legal issues of Tribal Digital Sovereignty. The conference will be presented by Rosette, LLP American Indian Economic Development Program and the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University.

For more information and registration, visit  http://conferences.asucollegeoflaw.com/ilp-ecommerce-2017  or email the conference coordinator at darlene.lester@asu.edu.