Pilar Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pilar Thomas
Personal details
Born	Germany
Education	Stanford University (BA) University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (JD)

Pilar M. Thomas is an American lawyer. She is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona. She has worked as a lawyer for her tribe. She helps tribes with important issues. These include water rights, treaty rights, and gaming laws. She also helps with energy projects for tribes.

Pilar Thomas has worked for the U.S. government. She was part of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Energy. She also served as the Deputy Solicitor of Indian Affairs. This role is in the U.S. Department of the Interior. She helped the U.S. adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. She also worked on new rules for tribal land leasing.

Early Life and School

Pilar Thomas was born in Germany. Her father was in the U.S. Army there. She grew up in Southern California. Her mother's family came from Mexico and Arizona.

Education Journey

Pilar Thomas went to Stanford University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1983. Later, she studied law at the University of New Mexico School of Law. She graduated in 2002 with high honors. She became a lawyer in Arizona in 2002.

Career Helping Tribes

Before becoming a lawyer, Pilar Thomas worked in finance. She worked in the financial services industry for 15 years. She then decided to become a lawyer. She wanted to help her own tribe and other tribes. Her goal was to help them with economic development.

Working for Tribes and Government

Pilar Thomas worked for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. She also joined a law firm in Phoenix. There, she focused on tribal law and gaming law.

In 2002, she became a trial attorney. This was for the U.S. Department of Justice. She worked on cases about water rights and treaty rights. In 2009, she took on a new role. She became the Deputy Solicitor for Indian Affairs. This was in the U.S. Department of the Interior. She gave legal advice on tribal laws. She also advised on issues related to Native Americans.

Pilar Thomas has spoken about her most important work. She helped with talks for the U.S. to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. She also worked on new rules for tribal land leasing. This included the HEARTH Act. She returned to her law firm in Phoenix in 2015.

In 2016, Pilar Thomas joined other former officials. They asked President Obama to stop or change the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). This pipeline was a big issue for many Native American tribes. Pilar Thomas is also a member of a special committee. This committee advises the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA).

Awards and Recognition

Pilar Thomas has received several honors for her work.

• She received a Service Award. This was from the U.S. Department of Justice. It was for her work on a case called United States v. Michigan. This case was about treaty rights.
• She was recognized in "The Best Lawyers in America" list. This was for her work in Native American Law in 2017.