Daniel Cordalis joined the Native American Rights Fund in 2024 with almost two decades of experience working with Tribes to protect their water, natural, and cultural resources, primarily in the Colorado and Klamath River Basins. Currently, he is harnessing those years of experience to lead NARF’s Tribal Water Institute and support tribal water interests through his legal and policy expertise.

Before joining NARF, Daniel worked in many capacities to support Tribes, including as tribal in-house counsel, in private practice, as an associate attorney with Earthjustice, as a legislative associate with the National Congress of American Indians, and in an appointed role within the Department of Interior Office of the Solicitor. Daniel is especially grateful for his time as a clerk for the late Justice Greg Hobbs in the Colorado Supreme Court and as a research assistant for the late Charles Wilkinson.

With his spouse, Daniel is raising three boys who will embrace the world from the mountain and desert ridges to the river riffles their families have lived with since the beginning of time.

Education

• University of Colorado Law School, J.D.
• University of Colorado, M.S., Geography (alpine hydrology focus)
• Rice University, B.A., Geology, Environmental Engineering

Admissions to Practice

•  Colorado
• California