1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
602–285–7500

The Phoenix College Tribal Court Advocacy Program (TCA), a unique legal studies program geared to training tribal court advocates, recently received a grant from the Navajo Department of Workforce Development totaling more than $500,000.

Over the next two semesters, this grant will allow for students from the Navajo Nation an opportunity to enroll in a comprehensive series of tribal court advocacy and legal assisting classes, which will lead to a TCA Certificate I. There are a total of 17 Navajo students and two students from the Gila River Indian Community participating in the cohort program. After eight months of intense classroom study and two months of interning, these students will be job ready, allowing them to optimize the level of justice in their communities.

Thanks to this unique partnership, the first group of students to enroll in the program include Bobbie Baldwin, Krystal Bergen, Candia K. Woodis-Rucker, Clarissa Yazzie, Cleve Guy, Lisa M. Iyua, Davis Henio, Lavinia L. Claw, Mary Ann Bullhead, Terry Benally, Shawna A. Charlie, Malcolm Begay, Loni Bernally, Clarence Tsinigine, Genny M. Saganey, Corileen R. Phillips, Benjamin Marquez, Bunn Young, Joe BiaKeddy and Ramona Saburi.

"When these students complete the program, they will be prepared to start working in a tribal court setting or…they could even start a private advocacy practice of their own…within the jurisdiction of their respective tribal judiciary," said Phoenix College Tribal Court Advocacy Professor and Director, Roland McAllen-Walker. "Competent legal representation in Indian Country can be difficult to find. This program is meeting the great need to train students who can take back home what they’ve learned. As this program continues to train more and more students, legal representation will become more accessible to those living on the reservation."

The Phoenix College Tribal Court Advocacy program is unique in that it is one of the few programs that provides legal training to students who desire to practice as tribal court advocates in the jurisdiction of federally recognized reservations. Phoenix College offers a fully developed tribal court advocacy curriculum leading to a two-year associate of applied science degree as well as two levels of occupational certificates.

Some of the topics covered in the program include: tribal court jurisdiction, federal Indian law, tribal sovereignty, tribal governance, tribal economic development, tribal natural resources law and other significant areas of Indian law that are particularly hard to find.

"The cooperation and support from Phoenix College President, Dr. Corina Gardea made this partnership possible between the Navajo Nation Council Subcommittee on Human Services and the Phoenix College TCA Program," said Peterson Zah, TCA Advisory Committee member. "The leadership and foresight exemplified by this partnership is a visionary investment in the future of American Indian students and the tribal communities they will ultimately serve. The Maricopa Community College District Governing Board is to be applauded for its supportive contributions and continuing trust."

"This is such a great program," said Mary Ann Bullhead, TCA student. "Once I complete the program, I would like to go back to the reservation and start my own tribal court advocacy business. It’s unfortunate that so many people on the reservation are unaware of U.S. based laws that affect them and their guaranteed fundamental rights. I want to help them and this program will allow me to do so. I also must commend Professor McAllen-Walker for all of his hard work with this program. We are all grateful for his commitment and efforts."

For more information on the Phoenix College Tribal Court Advocacy Program, please call (602) 285-7675.