Celene T. Olguin is an Attorney with Cedar Tree Native Law who has dedicated much of her legal practice to serving tribal nations and upholding tribal sovereignty. 

Celene has experience in a wide range of matters that come before tribal governments, including revising tribal codes and drafting resolutions, ordinances, and correspondence on behalf of tribal governing bodies. She has worked on a variety of economic development initiatives, including serving as a primary drafter of a Tribal-State cannabis compact. Celene has taken a lead role in preparing Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (“ISDEAA”) contracts. Her experience also includes representing individual tribal members in administrative appeals before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals (“IBIA”).

Celene received her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in May 2025, graduating with Honors Certification in American Indian Law. During law school, she developed a strong foundation in federal Indian law and tribal advocacy through her academic work and clinical practice. As a student attorney in the American Indian Law Clinic, she led capacity building sessions, conducted outreach to Native communities on voting and election law, collaborated with a Native-led nonprofit, and assisted individual tribal members through client intake and by authoring administrative complaints.

Celene was an active member of the Native American Law Students Association (“NALSA”), where she received the Outstanding NALSA Student Award in 2025. She was also an Articles Editor for the University of Colorado Law Review. Celene currently serves as Vice President of the Colorado Indian Bar Association.