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SAIO 50 for 50: Brett Shelton

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This Week's Spotlight:  Brett Shelton ('96, J.D.)

Brett Shelton

Shelton (Oglala Lakota) is an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund where he focuses on the Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative, and sacred places protection. He has extensive experience representing and advising tribal governments, agencies, and enterprises in general governmental, health and human services, employment, natural resources, construction, and economic and business development matters, as well as contributing legal advice and litigation support for various private individuals, businesses, and development initiatives. Shelton is also currently a panel member of the tribal courts of appeals for the Rosebud Sioux, Puyallup, and Hoopa Valley tribes.

Shelton serves on the Boards of Directors for the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the health, culture and environment of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in ways that heal and strengthen Lakota identity, and Colorado Chautauqua Association, a non-profit that administers historic buildings and offers cultural, educational, social and recreational experiences. He is a former John Milton Oskison Award winner and SAIO Indian Graduate Student of the Year.

In addition to his Stanford degree, Shelton holds bachelor’s degrees in business and philosophy, magna cum laude, from Baker University and a master’s in philosophy from the University of Kansas.  

Brett's Interview