Sign In

Ian Smith

Historical expert in litigation involving water rights, Native American treaty rights, navigability, and rights-of-way issues.

Ian Smith is the Principal Historian and History Division Manager at Historical Research Associates, Inc. (HRA), based in Missoula, Montana.12 He joined HRA in 2000 and has since worked primarily on historical-legal studies related to Indian land and water rights, navigability of waterways, cleanup of contaminated sites, and land-use issues in the West.1

Smith has extensive experience in researching federal, state, and local archival repositories and has written several expert historical reports. He has provided expert witness testimony at trials and depositions on various issues, including:

  • Water rights claims of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the Navajo Nation
  • Taxation issues affecting the Tulalip Tribes
  • Alleged diminishment of the Red Lake Indian Reservation's boundaries
  • A First Amendment challenge against the U.S. Forest Service involving a Jesus statue on a ski resort in Montana1

Smith is known for providing impeccably researched, meticulously sourced, and well-crafted histories that his clients can rely on in litigation.1 He has worked on numerous projects, with some of his favorites being cases that upheld Tribal sovereignty, such as the Red Lake Indian Reservation case and a right-of-way case across the Flathead Indian Reservation.2

Outside of work, Ian enjoys playing music and exploring the western Montana wilderness through activities like hiking, biking, camping, and skiing with his family.1

Highlights

Aug 14 · hrassoc.com
50th Anniversary Feature: Ian Smith
Apr 10 · hrassoc.com
Corporate Team - Historical Research Associates, Inc.

Related Questions

What are some notable projects Ian Smith has worked on?
How did Ian Smith transition from CRM consulting to historical research?
What specific legal cases has Ian Smith provided expert testimony for?
How does Ian Smith's work impact tribal communities?
What are Ian Smith's main responsibilities as History Division Manager?
Ian Smith
Add to my network

Location

Missoula, Montana, United States