legal Experience
Alvina Earnhart, originally from Coyote Canyon (Brimhall), New Mexico, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She is born for the Kin Łichii’nii (Red House People) clan and born for the Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms People) clan. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Haltsooi (Meadow People), and her paternal grandfather’s clan is Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People).
As the founder and owner of RED HOUSE LAW, Mrs. Earnhart brings over 15 years of legal experience with a focused practice in Federal Indian Law. Her firm offers trusted counsel in Tribal Law, Business Law, Family Law, Probate, Wills, and Estate Planning, with a strong commitment to serving tribal nations and communities with respect and cultural awareness.
Mrs. Earnhart has an extensive background in advising tribal governments and tribally owned enterprises across a wide range of legal and policy areas. Her work includes administrative law, tribal governance and reorganization, code development, human resources, social services, probate, land and water rights, taxation (federal, tribal, and state), economic development, housing, natural resources, agriculture, oil and gas development, and environmental compliance. She also has significant litigation experience in federal, state, and tribal courts.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Earnhart has served as General Counsel and Special Counsel to multiple tribes and tribally owned businesses, providing daily legal guidance to tribal leadership, department heads, boards, and commissions.
In addition to her work with tribal governments, Mrs. Earnhart represents individual tribal members and non-Indians in matters involving business, employment, housing, social services, family law, probate, and estate planning.
Mrs. Earnhart’s approach is rooted in cultural respect, deep legal knowledge, and a strong dedication to empowering Indigenous communities through meaningful legal advocacy.
Admissions
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Navajo Nation Courts
- Ute Indian Tribal Court
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Court
- Yankton Sioux Tribal Court
- Crow Nation Tribal Court
- Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Court
- Fort Berthold District Court
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court
- Hopi Tribal Court
- Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
- University of Colorado, J.D. (2003)
- University of Denver, B.A., American History and Political Science (2000)
Publications
- Committee Chair, Citizenship Delayed: Civil Rights and Voting Rights Implications of the Backlog in Citizenship and Naturalization Applications, Report of the Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Sept. 2019)
- Committee Chair, The Colorado Constitution’s No Aid to Sectarian Institutions Clause and Its Impact on Civil Rights, Report of the Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Sept. 2018)
- A Practical Guide to Tribal Issues Associated with Planning and Permitting a Pipeline, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation – Midstream Oil & Gas from the Upstream Perspective (April 24-25, 2018)
- Regulation of Employment: Tribal Employment Rights Ordinances and the NLRB, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation – Special Institute on Indian Law and Natural Resources: The Basics and Beyond (Sept. 26-27, 2017)
Professional Affiliations and Roles
- Member, Colorado History, Culture, Social Contributions and Civil Government in Education Commission - September 2025 - Present
- Committee Chair, Colorado State Advisory Committee for U.S. Commission on Civil Rights - Oct 2017 - Present
- President, Navajo Nation Bar Association - July 2022 - July 2024
- Chairperson, Rules Committee, Navajo Nation Bar Association - 2019 - 2022
- Board of Bar Commission Member, Navajo Nation Bar Association - 2018 - 2019
- Special Institutes Committee Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation - Sep 2017 - Oct 2019
- Navajo Nation Bar Association Member
- Colorado Bar Association Member
- American Bar Association Member