The Clerk's Office performs various jobs and duties for the Tribal Trial Court, Court of Appeals, the attorney bar, and the public. It is responsible for filing cases, briefs, motions, petitions, and other documents that are presented to the courts for decision. Once the decisions have been made, the staff is also responsible for disseminating the opinions, orders, and per curiam orders to the press, attorneys, trial court judges, and the public.
The office provides information and guidance to judges, attorneys, and the public about appellate practice and the appellate process.
The Court Administrator is the financial officer of the courts and the office provides payroll and other fiscal services for the personnel of the Court.
Angelica Diaz is the Clerk of Court for the Meskwaki Tribal Court and she also serves as the 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.
She is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Angelica is passionate about using her skills to helping out people and to strengthen communities.
She looks forward to learning and growing in this new position.
D. Suzanne (Wanatee) Buffalo is a Deputy Clerk at Meskwaki Tribal Court where she has worked for Justice services since 2007.
Suzanne has an Advanced Tribal Court Clerk’s 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. Her tribe is the Meskwaki Nation.
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 Indian Advisory Council as a 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, afterwards working in the field of advertising and public relations. Since moving back home to Iowa over thirty 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.
kpushetonequa@meskwakicourt.org
Kiyanna Pushetonequa is the Records Management Clerk and an enrolled tribal member of the Meskwaki Nation and a descendant of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
Kiyanna graduated from the Meskwaki High School and has since worked for the Meskwaki Nation for over 5 years. She enjoys being able to help out her community in many ways.
Azra Papakee is the Temporary Records Management Clerk.
Azra has a bachelor of social work degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She was proudly one of the founders of the first Native American student groups at the University of Northern Iowa and she continues to work with the University in order to create a more inclusive space for Native American students who attend UNI and for future students as well. She is a part of the Meskwaki Nation and she is happy to work alongside other passionate and community-driven departments in serving the people of the community and Native people everywhere.
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