Sage Metoxen is a Principal Attorney for the Litigation Unit of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. A member of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma, Sage was born and raised in Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2013 with a certificate in American Indian Law from the Center for the Study of American Indian Law and Policy. After graduating law school, she moved to the Navajo Nation to work as a staff attorney for DNA People’s Legal Services, Inc. She was then a natural resources attorney for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice and has most recently served as Senior Assistant General Counsel for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. She is admitted to practice law in the state of Arizona and the Navajo Nation.

Julianne Begay is a Principal Attorney in the Litigation Unit of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. She is Tóhtsóhnii born for Tódich’ii’nii. Her maternal grandfather is Tsènjákiní and her paternal grandfather is Tóhtsóhnii. Julianne is originally from Klagetoh, Arizona, but grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and currently lives in Bayfield, Colorado. Julianne received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and her Juris Doctorate from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Julianne has practiced law since 2015. Julianne worked in the Economic and Community Development Unit of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice before joining the Litigation Unit. Before working at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Julianne worked for Colorado Legal Services, a state-wide non-profit that provides free legal services to low-income Colorado residents, where she focused on divorce, custody, and landlord-tenant matters. Prior to that, Julianne worked as an in-house attorney for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and as an associate for Maynes, Bradford, Shipps, & Sheftel, LLP. Julianne is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Colorado, and the Navajo Nation. Outside of work, Julianne enjoys Crossfit, rec league soccer, hiking, learning how to mountain bike, DIY home projects, and volunteering in her community.

Tamara Hilmi Sakijha is a Palestinian lawyer in the Litigation Unit for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. Prior to joining our team, she worked as a litigator in New York at DLA Piper where she handled complex government investigations, related civil and criminal litigation, and international arbitrations and investigations. Ms. Sakijha has represented sovereign states, individuals and multinational companies in arbitrations under leading institutional and ad hoc rules, including the International Centre for Settlement and Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Ms. Sakijha successfully resolved high-risk regulatory and criminal inquiries brought by federal and state authorities, both in early negotiations and at trial. Ms. Sakijha is a principled pro bono advocate and has handled criminal appeals in New York state courts, name change applications, voting rights challenges, and asylum petitions. Prior to joining DOJ, Ms. Sakijha successfully represented a Garifuna family in their asylum petition in front of immigration court.

Shara Peterson is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She grew up in China Springs New Mexico.
Education: She is a graduate of Navajo Technical University and earned her Legal Assistant Certificate in 2019.
Job: She currently works as a Legal Secretary for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice-Litigation Unit.
Experience, if any: She has practiced civil law for 3 years, she has previously worked as a Customer Service Representative and Legal Assistant