Jessie is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and joined Spoon Thompson, PLLP as an associate in August 2025. He has significant experience in governance and tribal jurisdictional matters, including defending tribes and tribal entities against litigation brought by private parties, as well as tribal taxation, housing, education, construction law, economic development initiatives, and business structuring for enterprises.

Jessie served as Attorney General of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, where he advised Tribal Government, Administration, and Programs on a wide range of legal issues, including Indian gaming, environmental and natural resources law, federal procurement, Indian education law and policy, litigation, and tribal governance. In that role, he also gained extensive experience drafting amendments to the Chippewa Cree Tribal Law and Order Codes, updating resolutions and policies, negotiating agreements, and handling Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) matters.

Practice Areas

• Tribal Law
• Landlord-tenant
• Tribal Jurisdiction and Taxation
• Tribal Housing
• Economic Development
• Business
• Employment
• Litigation

Personal Information 

Jessie grew up on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.  He is deeply committed and dedicated to serving Montana’s rural and tribal communities. He also serves as a board member of the Montana Environmental Information Center, where he advocates for the protection of Montana’s natural resources and the interests of tribal communities. During law school, his studies focused on the intersection of tribal sovereignty, natural resources, and federal Indian law. He contributed scholarship that has since been published in the Montana Lawyer (State Bar of Montana, June/July 2022, Vol. 47, Iss. 6) and in the ABA Natural Resources & Environment (NR&E) Section (Winter 2025 Edition).

When not practicing law, Jessie enjoys spending time with his family and son, hunting, practicing his tribal customs, exploring the outdoors, and engaging in communities across the State of Montana.

Education

Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, J.D., Phoenix Arizona

• Certificate in Federal Indian Law
• Highest Pro Bono Distinction

Upper Iowa University, B.A., Fayette Iowa

Admissions

• Arizona
• Montana
• Chippewa Cree Tribal Court for Rocky Boys Reservation