Affie B. Ellis

Experience with tribal, state and federal governments. Finds common ground on complex issues between government, private industry and environmental groups.

A respected advisor on federal Indian law and policy, Affie Ellis is a member of the Navajo Nation and serves on the Navajo Transitional Energy Company Board of Directors. Counseling clients on public lands and natural resources regulatory and administrative matters, Affie draws on her experience as assistant attorney general for the state of Wyoming where she litigated cases involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, National Forest Management Act and Federal Land Policy Management Act.

Affie taught federal Indian law at the University of Wyoming as an adjunct professor and served as commissioner of the U.S. Tribal Law and Order Commission, which developed a comprehensive study of law enforcement and criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country. She has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate committees on the commission’s work and findings and submitted recommendations to the president and Congress in 2014.

Using her state and federal government sector experience, Affie counsels clients on public land and natural resource regulatory and legislative matters, including permitting procedure, regulatory compliance and federal legislative and regulatory affairs. 

She is a former state senator who represented Wyoming’s 8th district from 2017-2024.
 

Education

J.D., 2007, University of Colorado School of Law

B.S., 2000, University of Wyoming

Admissions

Wyoming

Memberships

Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, Board of Directors, 2017-2024

Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization and Sequestration Federal Lands and Outer Continental Shelf Permitting Task Force, Member, 2023-2024

Wyoming Community Foundation, Board Member, 2011-2017

American Bar Association – Criminal Justice Section, Tribal Lands Subcommittee, Co-Chair, 2014-2017

University of Wyoming Literacy Research Center and Clinic Advisory Board

University of Wyoming Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center Advisory Board

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Wyoming State Advisory Committee, Member, 2013-2017

American Council of Young Political Leaders, Delegate and Escort, 2010 (Brazil), 2016 (China and Taiwan)

American Council on Germany, 2016
 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Board of Directors, Navajo Transitional Energy Company

Board of Directors, Wyoming Congressional Award Council

Board of Directors, Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation

Board of Directors, Grand Teton National Park Foundation

Board of Directors, Cheyenne LEADS

Board of Directors, Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus

At-Large Member, Wyoming State Bar, Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law Section

AWARDS:

Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025

Profiles in Diversity Journal, Native American Indigenous Leadership Award, 2023

Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, 2019 Leadership In Policy Award

Governing Institute, Women in Government Leadership Program, Class of 2018

Wyoming Woman of Influence 2017 for Government, Law and Economic Development

Casper Star-Tribune recognized Ellis as one of Wyoming’s outstanding citizens in its 2011 “20 Under 40” Section

University of Wyoming 2011 Woman of Distinction