JUNE 25, 2019: ROLE OF THE TRIBAL COURT JUDGE
The role of the Tribal court judge can vary from tribe to tribe and state to state. The judge must navigate intersections and gaps in state, federal and tribal authority in Indian Country The faculty for this session will be several tribal court judges who will talk about the challenges and opportunities this unique bench provides.
FACULTY:
Hon. John Traylor, Presiding Judge for Gila River Indian Community Court of Appeals
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
APRIL 25, 2019: DATA SOVEREIGNTY: STORYTELLING THROUGH NUMBERS AND EVALUATIONS
Tribal courts are often called upon to navigate a relationship with state courts, state welfare agencies and law enforcement. This can be challenging as many state court and agency professionals do not understand tribal law or sovereignty. This webinar will explore how Tribal courts can develop working relationships with state courts, agencies, and law enforcement to ensure better outcomes for tribal members.
FACULTY:
Melissa Sickmund, Director, The National Center for Juvenile Justice
Kate Trujillo (Laguna), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
MARCH 29, 2019: WORKING WITH LGBTQ2S IN TRIBAL COURTS
This session explores how tribal courts can work effectively and respectfully with members of the LGBTQ2S community. The webinar provides a basic overview of terminology and will discuss some of the challenges that the LGBTQ2S community faces. The webinar also provides some practical tips that courts can use when working with the LGBTQ2S community.
FACULTY:
Kurt Begaye (Dine), Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition, Begaye Consulting
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
MARCH 11, 2019: REENTRY PRIMER FOR TRIBAL COURTS
One individual’s incarceration impacts the entire community, as every person’s role is important for the community’s livelihood. Reentry is a process assisted by programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare to be active, contributing members of the community. These programs address the needs of offenders by reconnecting tribal members with the community and offering career readiness programs, vocational training, and designated housing upon release.
FACULTY:
Keith Green, Operation Coordinator, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Reentry Program
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
FEBRUARY 27, 2019: PEACEMAKING PART II
This session is a follow-up to the very successful Peacemaking webinar conducted in 2017. This webinar discusses how tribal traditions may hold a solution to some problems that have proven especially difficult in tribal court, provides some examples of how other tribes have had success, and explains how this movement is part of a bigger picture, even internationally, of how indigenous communities are using their own wisdom to solve their problems. Peacemaking is not alternative dispute resolution to Native communities – it is the original, traditional way our communities managed to work through disputes for centuries before tribal courts were created. Because of natural limitations inherent in tribal courts, there is increasing interest in the continuation and revitalization of those traditional ways.
FACULTY:
Professor Shawn Watts (Cherokee) Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the University of Kansas, School of Law Mediation Clinic
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
DECEMBER 19, 2018 – BUILDING TRIBAL COURT CAPACITY
This session will explores how tribal courts can build and enhance their capacity to serve their community. Faculty discusses the basics of court management and how to develop programs to support the legal work of the Court. Faculty also addresses how the development of Court programs can allow for involvement of the community and Tribal Membership in the Tribal Court and enhances relationship building between the Court and the Community and Membership it serves.
FACULTY:
Angela Fasana, Court Administrator, Conf. Tribes of Grand Ronde
Adrea Korthase, Site Manager, NCJFCJ
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief, NAICJA Program Coordinator
DECEMBER 18, 2018 – THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT AND BEST PRACTICES FOR ATTORNEYS
Within the child welfare world, research has demonstrated the following truths: 1. Removing a child from their home, even when necessary, is generally traumatic for the child; 2. Kinship and community placements help reduce the degree of trauma felt by the child; 3. Reunification must remain the primary focus unless and until every effort has been made and it has been deemed impossible. Best practice recommendations for child representatives, parent representatives, social workers, CASAs, and GALs incorporate this knowledge, but there is also a federal law (the Indian Child Welfare Act) that requires efforts with a certain population that mirror the latest research. This session will review the law and show which legal elements meet both legal and best practices requirements.
FACULTY:
Victoria Sweet (Anishinaabe), JD, MA, Assistant Director, Tribal Law and Justice Counseling, The Whitener Group
MODERATOR:
Ansley Sherman (Muscogee (Creek)), Program Attorney, National American Indian Court Judges Association
DECEMBER 11, 2018 – INCORPORATING CULTURAL PRACTICES INTO YOUR TRIBAL COURT
Incorporating traditional cultural practices into Tribal Court can provide Tribal communities with vital options for dispute resolution, substance abuse treatment and sobriety maintenance, and relationship development. This webinar will explore how courts have worked with Tribal Elders to bring traditional elements from the community into the court.
FACULTY:
Judge Abby Abinanti, Judge, Yurok Tribal Court
Judge Jan Morris, Program Director, NCJFCJ
MODERATOR:
Rebekah A. HorseChief, Program Coordinator, NAICJA
OCTOBER 26, 2018 – MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT:
Medication Assisted Treatment is vital for those who struggle with opioid addiction. In many tribal communities, especially in rural areas, access to Medication Assisted Treatment is challenging. This session will explore why Medication Assisted Treatment is a necessary component of opioid treatment and will discuss the challenges of providing this necessary service in rural tribal communities.
FACULTY:
Dr. Anne Skinstad, Clinical Professor & Director, Native American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
Sean Bear 1st BA, CADC, Meskwaki Tribal Nation, Native American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
MODERATOR:
Rebekah HorseChief (Osage), Program Coordinator, National American Indian Court Judges Association
SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 – SOBER SUPPORT IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES:
People in recovery do better at maintaining their sobriety over a long period of time when they have “sober support.” This webinar will explore sober support options for use in Tribal Communities from the 12-step models to more “homegrown” models that incorporate traditional cultural practices to help those in recovery maintain sobriety.
FACULTY:
Trina Hart, Gila River Indian Community
Kim M. McGinnis, PhD, Chief Judge, Pueblo of Pojoaque
MODERATOR:
Ansley Sherman (Muscogee (Creek)), Program Attorney, National American Indian Court Judges Association