Lael Echo-Hawk | Pawnee Nation
Principal
MThirtySix, Inc.

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Lael serves on the Board of Directors of Tribal Ready, PBC, bringing deep experience in Tribal law, federal policy, and national advocacy that informs how complex opportunities are evaluated and advanced.

Lael is the Principal of MThirtySix Inc., a Tribal advocacy firm representing Tribes and Tribal organizations across the United States. Her work focuses on helping Tribal Nations navigate federal policy, regulatory environments, and strategic decision-making with clarity and confidence.

Her background spans both Tribal and federal leadership. Lael previously served as in-house counsel for a Washington State Tribe and its economic enterprises, giving her direct experience with Tribal governance and operational realities. She later moved to Washington, D.C., where she served as Legislative Director for the Native American Contractors Association and as Counselor to the Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. In these roles, she worked at the center of federal policy and regulatory oversight impacting Tribal Nations.

Today, Lael advises Tribal governments and organizations on matters that require both legal precision and strategic foresight. Her perspective helps ensure decisions are grounded in sovereignty, aligned with federal frameworks, and structured to protect Tribal interests over the long term.

An enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Upper Ahtna Athabascan people of Alaska, Lael brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to her work in Indian Country.

In practice: Lael brings a national-level policy and legal perspective, helping ensure decisions are informed, defensible, and aligned with Tribal sovereignty.