In a first-of-its kind effort to address the inadequate and underfunded legal services that tribes face in court cases that involve the Indian Child Welfare Act, The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake has donated $100,000 to the California Tribal Families Coalition to help fund the launch of the coalition’s Legal Council of Tribes, which is a legal services project aimed at providing the state’s tribes comprehensive legal and social welfare services. The coalition is aiming to recruit the best Native American lawyers or lawyers of other backgrounds with a high degree of knowledge in federal ICWA and child welfare, who understand tribal sovereignty.