Alexander Skibine

Alexander Tallchief Skibine was born in the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France on July 3, 1952, just before his twin brother, George. Alex died on February 4, 2023, from glioblastoma.

Alex’s mother, Marjorie Tallchief, and father, George Boris Skibine, were principal dancers with the Paris Opera Ballet. The family lived in France until moving to the US when the twins were 14. Alex graduated from Tufts University and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

When not traveling in Europe, Alex spent his summers during college and law school working at his Uncle Henry (Buzz) Paschen’s construction firm. Alex loved the Paschen family, including Aunt Maria Tallchief, the American prima ballerina, and his cousin, Elise Paschen, the poet. Alex spent many happy days with the Paschens during his time in Chicago and later as they generously and warmly included Alex’s family in many vacations.

Alex’s first job after law school graduation in 1976 was in Washington, DC at the Institute for the Development of Indian Law, where he met his wife, Jackie Stahl, who was a researcher there. They married in 1980 and welcomed son Alexandre (Sasha) in 1982 and daughter Nathalie in 1985.

For his entire career, Alex worked as an Indian law advocate. As deputy counsel for the House Interior Select Committee on Indian Affairs, he was instrumental in conceiving and creating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, which provides a statutory basis for the operation of gaming by Indian tribes as a means of promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments. Later, as an academic, he wrote cutting edge Indian law articles and also taught at summer programs for Native law students at the University of New Mexico and Lewis and Clark. Since 1989 Alex taught at the SJ Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah where he built many valued relationship with students, fellow faculty, and administration.

Alex loved his family; travel; his Osage tribe; French novels; rides with his motorcycle gang; walks with his dog, Barley, in Millcreek Canyon; and emails with his brother about important Indian law issues, European soccer, and professional tennis. Of the many places Alex and Jackie traveled, his two most favorite experiences were snorkeling with penguins in the Galapagos and spending an afternoon walking in a meadow of brown bears and their cubs in the Kenai Peninsula.

Some of the many things his family will miss about Alex are his love and care for us, his humor and intelligence, his French accent, his inability to stop feeding Barley at the table, and his misuse of American idioms.

Those close to him marveled at his good spirits and determination while facing a very malignant cancer for which there is no cure.

After his brain surgery in March 2022, when the first tumor was removed, Alex was able to live symptom free for all of 2022. That year was an opportunity to spend time with those dearest, revel in the love of family and friends, take many trips, and appreciate that “today is a good day.” This was also the year that Nathalie brought Austin Riter and his family into the Skibine family circle, and Alex appreciated Austin’s support and many deeds of kindness. It was truly a very blessed year.

Alex diligently complied with the treatment prescribed by his skillful Huntsman Cancer Institute medical team, who showed him great caring. He recognized how fortunate he was to be a short drive away from a world-class medical facility. Unfortunately, Alex was not the outlier to the disease we had all hoped he would be and a secondary tumor caused his very sudden death.

A Celebration of Alex's life will be held at the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law on March 23. Check the school’s website for details.

The law school has created an endowed scholarship in Alex’s name for students interested in studying Indian law. Memorial contributions may be directed to https://sjquinney.utah.edu/give/alexander-skibine/ (See direct link below.)

From Wi’-gi-e, a poem by Elise Paschen

During Xtha-cka Zhi-ga Tze-the, the Killer of the Flowers Moon.
I will wade across the river of the blackfish, the otter, the beaver.
I will climb the bank where the willow never dies.

Source: Bestiary (Red Hen Press, 2009)