Heather D Whiteman Runs Him

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Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

• Menjivar Maldonado, A., Megdal, S. B., & Whiteman Runs Him, H. (2026). Tribal Water Rights Settlement Acts Involving Arizona and Their Impacts on Water Security. Water (Switzerland), 18(Issue 6). doi:10.3390/w18060741
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  In the western part of the United States, surface water rights follow the prior appropriation doctrine, while tribal water rights are governed by the reserved water rights doctrine. States and Tribal Nations share borders, but water knows no boundaries, and water-related conflicts emerged by the late 19th Century. The United States Supreme Court recognized the reserved water rights doctrine through Winters v. United States in 1908. Over a century later, many tribal water rights claims remain unresolved. Since 1978, congressionally approved tribal water rights settlement acts have emerged as a way to resolve pending tribal water rights claims in the United States. As of March 2026, Tribal Nations, Arizona, the United States, and other interested parties have negotiated 11 congressionally approved tribal water rights settlement acts. This article qualitatively analyzes these 11 congressionally approved tribal water rights settlement acts. The historical and legal analysis highlights the importance of water sharing through water rights settlement acts to ensure water security for Arizona, Tribal Nations, and other interested parties.

Presentations

• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2024, April). Supreme Court Review Panel. Federal Bar Association Indian Law Conference. Albuquerque, NM: Federal Bar Association.
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  Panelist discussing recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court related to interests of Tribal Nations. 
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2024, February). U.S. Indian Boarding Schools Policy: the Ongoing Search for Truth and Justice. Red Rising: the Shifting Legal Landscape of Tribal Sovereignty. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Law Review.
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2024, July). "Indigenous Environmental Law: The Impacts of Arizona et al. v. Navajo Nation on Tribal Water Rights". ABA-SEER Webinar. Online: American Bar Association Section on Energy and Environmental Resources.
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  Panelist in webinar examining the impacts of decision on tribal water rights and water access. 
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2024, July). Intergenerational Impacts of Indian Boarding Schools in the United States:  In search of answers and healing. Side event in the margins of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 17th Annual Session. Geneva, Switzerland: U of Arizona Tribal Justice Clinic; NARF-CU Law Implementation Project; International Indian Treaty Council; National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2023, November). The Federal Government in Indian Country: Homelands and Permanent Homes for Citizens and Families of Tribal Nations. Native American Heritage Month Featured Speaker. presented online: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2023, November). The Federal Government in Indian Country. Foundation on Natural Resource and Environmental Law Indian Resources Institute. Chandler, AZ: Foundation on Natural Resource and Environmental Law.
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2023, October).

  Indian Law Cases: Update

  . Yosemite Conference on Environmental Law. Fish Camp, CA: California Environmental Lawyers Association.
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  Panelist on Supreme Court update panel.
• Whiteman Runs Him, H. D. (2023, September). Arizona Tribal Leaders' Forum on Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions. Arizona Tribal Leaders' Forum on Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions. Tucson, AZ: Haury Foundation, University of Arizona Office of Native American Initiatives, and Arizona Law Tribal Justice Clinic.
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  Moderator and speaker/content coordinator for inaugural event to provide information and collaboration on SCOTUS activity for leaders of Tribal Nations in Arizona and beyond.