Heather Tanana

Heather Tanana

Assistant Professor of Law

Professional Biography

Heather J. Tanana, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, is a nationally recognized expert in Federal Indian Law, with particular expertise in tribal water rights and the intersection of the environment, health, and Indigenous peoples. Her scholarship and advocacy focus on securing water access for tribal communities, particularly in the Colorado River Basin, where she has emerged as a leading voice in addressing acute water challenges facing Indigenous communities.

Professor Tanana leads the Initiative on Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities, a groundbreaking effort that develops policy frameworks and advocates for federal reform to ensure reliable access to clean, safe, and affordable water. Her work on this initiative has influenced federal policy and received numerous awards from professional associations and academic institutions. She also serves as associate faculty with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, where she teaches courses on Indigenous environmental health policy. Her scholarship appears in top-tier journals, and she has testified before Congress on tribal water rights. Professor Tanana is a frequently sought presenter at universities and conferences nationwide.

Professor Tanana’s career has been driven by her personal commitment to serving Indigenous communities. After practicing law for several years at Richards Brandt Miller Nelson, she completed a federal clerkship with U.S. District Court Judge David Nuffer before joining academia. She previously served as assistant professor of law (research) at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and a visiting assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine where she was nominated for Professor of the Year.

Beyond her academic work, Professor Tanana is deeply engaged in service. She founded and served as president of the Utah Tribal Relief Foundation, led the formation of the Indian Law Section of the Utah State Bar, and serves on the board of Western Resource Advocates and advisory boards of Planet Women and DigDeep.

Professor Tanana holds a JD with High Honors from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she was inducted into the Delta Omega Honorary Society. She is admitted to practice before the Navajo Nation Bar and Utah State Bar.