Team Spirit Rock

What sets Spirit Rock apart is not only the depth of our experience, but also the diversity of our professional backgrounds. Our partners have served in senior roles across various branches of government, including key positions for Members of Congress in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Additionally, we have held high-level political appointments in Presidential Administrations, giving us unique insights into the executive branch's approach to Native American policy. This multi-faceted government experience is complemented by our work as Tribal in-house counsel, providing us with an intimate understanding of the day-to-day challenges and opportunities faced by Tribal governments.

Spirit Rock takes pride in our commitment to authentic representation and advocacy. This devotion ensures that our firm's work is grounded in a profound understanding of Native American cultures, traditions, and values. It also means that Spirit Rock's professionals bring a personal stake to our work, driven by a deep-seated desire to advance the interests of Native American communities. This combination of extensive experience, diverse governmental backgrounds, and an all-Native American team positions Spirit Rock as a uniquely qualified and passionate advocate for Tribal interests in the complex world of federal Indian policy.

Team Photos by Teko Alejo - Teko Photography tekophoto.com

Aurene Martin - Founder and Managing Partner

Aurene Martin is the Managing Partner of Spirit Rock Consulting. A member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, she is also of the Menominee and Oneida descent and grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. She has extensive experience in Federal Indian law and policy, having served in both Tribal government as in-house counsel and in the Federal government in key posts responsible for developing Indian law and policy. She has served in both the United States Congress and the United States Department of Interior.

Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Martin had a lengthy career in public service. As a high level political appointee at the Department of the Interior, she originally served as Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. She was elevated to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and served for over a year as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs before leaving the Department.

Before joining the Department of the Interior, Ms. Martin was Senior Counsel to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs chaired by U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), where she had a key role in developing legislation involving tribes, particularly in the areas of gaming and health care.

Ms. Martin began her career as Senior Staff Attorney of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. As in-house counsel to the Tribe, she handled Indian Child Welfare Act litigation, state legislative affairs and gaming matters, and served on the Tribe's compact negotiation team in 1998.

Ms. Martin attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Università di Bologna in Bologna, Italy. She majored in History, Italian and History of Culture and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1993. She is a member of the District of Columbia and Wisconsin State Bar. Ms. Martin has been active in the Wisconsin State Bar Indian law section, having served as an officer of the section.

amartin@spiritrockllc.com

Jennifer Van der Heide - Partner

Jennifer Van der Heide is a Partner at Spirit Rock LLC.. She has extensive experience in Federal Indian law and policy, having served in both Tribal government as in-house counsel and in the Federal government in key positions responsible for supporting Indian Country. She has served in both the United States Congress and at the United States Department of Interior. She also has substantial campaign experience and has cultivated deep relationships inside the Democratic Party, on and off Capitol Hill.

She served as Chief of Staff to three Members of Congress over nearly twenty years, including former Rep. Deb Haaland, whom she was pivotal in electing to office as one of the first Native American Congresswomen, and former Rep. Mike Honda (Silicon Valley). Ms. Van der Heide proceeded to lead Secretary Haaland’s transition to the Department of Interior as Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor.

During her congressional service, Ms. Van der Heide played a key role in developing legislation serving Tribes, notably what is now the Honoring Promises to Indian Nations Act, as well as issues such as the Indian Boarding schools, Self-Governance, Tribal Recognition, Tribal Law and Order, MMIP and Tribal land rights. Jennifer previously served as the DC Director leading Congressional strategy and advocacy and on-reservation attorney for the Hoopa Valley Tribe; Tribal Attorney for California Indian Legal Services, and in private litigation practice in CA.

jennifer@spiritrockllc.com

While on Capitol Hill, Ms. Van der Heide was also the Political Director for Rep. Mike Honda’s nine-year tenure as Democratic National Committee’s Vice-Chair and chief strategist during his Chairmanship of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She was instrumental in the formation of the Congressional Tri-Caucus (Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucuses).

Ms. Van der Heide has long been a Tribal advocate, most recently as Vice President of Advocacy & Engagement at IllumiNative where she played a critical role advocating for narrative change on Native issues. She served as a member of the Biden Transition Tribal Policy Committee and was co-chair of the Indigenous People’s subcommittee on the White House Council on Native Americans. She serves on Advance Native Political Leadership’s endorsement committee and has supported numerous Native political candidates. Ms. Van der Heide has twice been honored for service to Indian Country, as well as recognitions for her service and contributions to the AANHPI and Afro-Colombian communities.

She has a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University, and a Juris Doctorate from UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings), with a focus on public interest law. Jennifer is a Senior Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow, a senior Congressional European Parliamentary Initiative participant, and a Women’s Executive Leadership Program Fellow.

William Couture - Legislative Assistant

William Couture, originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, is an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. He graduated from St. Norbert College in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. William began his career in federal policy as the Rod Lewis Fellow at Akin Gump's American Indian Policy and Regulation practice, gaining valuable insights into Native American policy issues.

In 2021, William joined the Office of Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin from Illinois, the second-highest ranking Senator in the Democratic Caucus. During his nearly three-year tenure, he worked on various issues including energy, environmental protection, public lands and natural resources, agriculture, and Indian affairs. This experience provided him with a broad understanding of critical issues affecting both Native American communities and the broader American public.

William's career trajectory showcases his commitment to public service and his dedication to addressing important policy issues, particularly those affecting Native American communities and environmental concerns. His unique perspective as a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, combined with his experience in the Senate, positions him as a valuable asset in his current role at Spirit Rock LLC, where he continues to influence and shape policy decisions.

wcouture@spiritrockllc.com