Court Staff

ABOUT THE COURT STAFF

The Clerk's Office performs various jobs and duties for the Tribal Trial Court, Court of Appeals, the attorney bar, and the public. The office is responsible for maintaining current case files (physically and electronically) and documents receiving all filings, briefs, motions, petitions, and other documents that are presented to the court. When judicial decisions are made, the staff is also responsible for disseminating the opinions, orders, and per curiam orders to the case parties or their attorneys, interested parties (associated tribal departments having programmatic interest in a case such as RISE Victim Services, and protected parties, bond posters, etc.).

The Appellate Clerk performs case management for all Appellate matters and provides general information to the public about appellate practice and the appellate process.

The Court Administrator is the financial officer of the courts and provides payroll and other fiscal services for the personnel of the Court.

Meet the court staff

Angelica Diaz - Court Administrator

Bree Davidson - Clerk of Court / Clerk of Appellate Court

ca.court@meskwakicourt.org

Angelica Diaz is the Court Administrator for the Meskwaki Tribal Court . She previously served as the Tribe's Clerk of Court/Clerk of Appellate Court.

Angelica has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Political Science-Cum Laude from Iowa State University. She has previous legal experience at Dawson County Court in Lexington, Nebraska, where she is from.

Angelica is fluent in both English and Spanish. She is passionate about using her skills to helping people and to strengthen communities.

She looks forward to learning and growing in this new position.

Bree Davidson - Clerk of Court / Clerk of Appellate Court

clerk.court@meskwakicourt.org

Bree Davidson is the Clerk of Court for the Meskwaki Tribal Court and Appellate Court.

Bree earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on Minorities and Incarceration from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA. She has previous legal experience working for the 6th Judicial District Court in Cedar Rapids with the Clerk of Court’s Office and Court Administration, and as a Legal Assistant for the City of Cedar Rapids.

After graduating High School at Benton Community, and completing a year of College, Bree took a break and joined the United States Army. After returning back home, returned to College and completed her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree.

Bree currently resides in Cedar Rapids with her husband and 5 children.

Suzanne Buffalo - Deputy Clerk of Court

Bree Davidson - Clerk of Court / Clerk of Appellate Court

Kiyanna Pushetonequa - Records Management Clerk

sbuffalo@meskwakicourt.org

D. Suzanne (Wanatee) Buffalo is a Deputy Clerk at Meskwaki Tribal Court where she has worked for Justice services since 2007. She is Meskwaki.

Suzanne has an Advanced Tribal Court Clerk’s Certification and Court Administrator Certification; is NCIC certified by the Department of Justice (TAP - Tribal Access Program); is certified by the FBI for the Criminal Justice Information Services - CJIS Security Awareness Training; and is certified by the Iowa Department of Corrections to teach the ACTV (Achieving Change Through Value-Based Behavior) program.

She previously served two terms on the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa from 2015 – 2021, and she presently serves on the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa. In 2014, Suzanne began serving on the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist’s (OSA) Indian Advisory Council as an at-large member. She has continually served on the NAGPRA Repatriation Committee for the Meskwaki Historical Preservation Department since 1995. She previously served a 4-year term on the Iowa Commission of Native American Affairs. Presently she is serving as a member of the Field Museum Native Advisory Committee, in Chicago, Illinois.

Suzanne received an Advanced Office Administration Certificate from the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Adult Vocational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada, then worked in the field of advertising and public relations. Since moving back home to the Midwest forty years ago, she has worked in a variety of roles for tribal government and tribal business, in professional as well as volunteerism or committee capacities.

Kiyanna Pushetonequa - Records Management Clerk

Mercedez Navarro - Assistant Deputy Clerk of Court

Kiyanna Pushetonequa - Records Management Clerk

kpushetonequa@meskwakicourt.org

Kiyanna Pushetonequa is the Records Management Clerk and a member of the Meskwaki Sac & Fox Tribe and a descendant of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Kiyanna graduated from the Meskwaki High School and has since worked for the Meskwaki Nation for 7 plus years. She enjoys being able to work for her tribe and helping out her community in many ways.

Mercedez Navarro - Assistant Deputy Clerk of Court

adminast.court@meskwakicourt.org

Mercedez Navarro is the Assistant Deputy Clerk of Court and a member of the Meskwaki Nation. Mercedez graduated from South Tama High School.

Sean A. Bear - Strategic Planning Assistant

Mercedez Navarro - Assistant Deputy Clerk of Court

sbear@meskwakicourt.org

Sean A. Bear (Ki-o-kuk), is the strategic planning assistant at the Meskwaki Court.

Sean is an American Indian Veteran of 9 ½ in the US Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, a graduate of Buena Vista University, double majoring in Psychology and Human Services. I completed 2 yrs. at Drake University Graduate program studying Mental Health Counseling and Vocational Rehabilitation (Double Majoring).

His experience comes from being a counselor, researcher, and working as an advocate for American Indian Veterans and Mental Health cultural considerations. I have worked with Drug courts and Tribal Healing to Wellness courts as a trainer, presenter, and am particularly passionate about building culturally based curricula. My contributions have been included in a few publications and I have sat on boards as a consultant and contributor. I have been and national presenter and trainer throughout Indian country working with tribes and professionals working with American Indians.