Amy Bowers

Amy is a member of the Yurok Tribe of Northern California. Her family is from the village of Requa on the mouth of the Klamath River. As traditional regalia holders and leaders, several generations of her family have fought for cultural and fishing rights; including her great uncle whose battle was successfully won in the Supreme Court case, Mattz v. Arnet that confirmed the boundaries of the Yurok reservation and fishing rights. Amy is active in Yurok ceremonies and salmon fishing. Her Tribe’s connection to the Klamath River and the need to protect it for future generations brought her into the field of law.

Amy graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oregon, and earned her J.D. from the University of Denver in 2007. While at DU Amy served two terms as the National Native American Law Students Association (NNALSA) Secretary and one year as the University of Denver NALSA President. In 2006, Amy took second place as overall advocate and second place brief at the NNALSA Moot Court Competition at the University of Washington.

Prior to coming to NARF as a staff attorney in 2007, Amy clerked for Alexander, Berkey, Williams and Weathers in Berkeley, California, and for the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, Colorado.

Currently, Amy represents Tribal clients in the areas of water rights, Indian education, self-governance and also serves as the director of the NARF Law Clerk Program, which aims to educate young attorneys in Indian Law. She serves as the Colorado Indian Bar Association treasurer. She is admitted to practice law in Colorado.