Author: Victoria Sweet

Manidoowaadiziwag Ikwewag – Women Are Sacred, Video Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence and Practices for Dealing with DV in Native Communities and Victims with Disabilities

Victoria Sweet

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

This documentary film was developed to be an educational and training tool based on the work produced by the Minnesota Accessing Paths to Safety Project.

The film chronicles the the first-hand stories of American Indian woman survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse with disabilities from the White Earth Nation. Learn about their history and tradition, the impact of historical trauma and intergenerational grief, and the resources available for survivors on and around the reservation.

Link to the video here.

UNM Law Students Looking for Information on Incorporating Traditional Justice Into Tribal Court Adjudications

Victoria Sweet

A panel of UNM Law Students presented the research they have compiled so far on Tribal Courts and Traditional Justice Systems at the NAICJA conference. The students are currently researching different approaches to implementing traditional justice in tribal courts and would appreciate ideas and recommendations for tribal constitutions, codes, court opinions or other sources of information on this topic. They are working with Professor Scott Taylor, and ideas can be sent to him at: taylor@law.unm.edu.

The UNM Law Students are:

Javiér Amaya, Erica Valdez, Christine Jordan, Concetta Tsosie, EJ John, April Wilkinson

UNM Student Panel

UNM Student Panel 2

Cherokee Nation Youth Choir, NAICJA Culture Evening

Victoria Sweet

The Cherokee Nation Youth Choir performed for the judges attending the National American Indian Court Judges Association Conference. They sang in their Native language, both acapella (the way their Elders say it should be) and with accompaniment. We also were lucky enough to hear stories from Cherokee Nation Storyteller Janelle Adair.

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NAICJA Final Panel, Incorporating Peacemaking Into State Courts

Victoria Sweet1 Comment

Peacemaking Panel

Judge Michael Petoskey, Judge Tim Connors, Judge Lorintha Umtuch

Sharing information on the formation of and experiences with the Washtenaw County Peacemaking Court.

Hello My Name Is: Alaska Native Voices Calling Out for Safety of Native Women

Victoria Sweet

Synergy, the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody’s (RCDV: CPC) twice a year newsletter, is now available! Synergy, FVPSA, 30th & VAWA 20th Anniversary Issue, No. 2 of 2 is dedicated to increasing awareness of violence against women in tribal communities generally, and Alaska Natives specifically. This issue includes an article titled Hello My Name is: Alaska Native Voices Calling Out for Safety of Native Women; an overview of the Tribal Law and order Act; and a playwrights view on the idea for and development of, Sliver of a Full Moon, a play highlighting the collective success of Native women’s voices to change laws so that their children and grandchildren will have a better future.

The newsletter is available for download here.

Wilder Research Study, Projected Population Numbers for Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Based on Varied Enrollment Criteria

Victoria Sweet1 Comment

In 2012-2013, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) contracted with Wilder Research to conduct a study and produce population projections for MCT as a whole as well as for the six member Bands: Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs and White Earth. In 2013-2014, MCT again contracted with Wilder Research to update the existing projections and to add an additional alternative enrollment criteria scenerio to the study.

The study looks at projected population numbers based on three possible enrollment criteria, all different from the current criteria in use: 1/4 Ojibwe blood including any U.S. and Canadian Ojibwe tribes, 1/8 MCT blood, and lineal descent. The White Earth Nation posted a summary of the findings of the study here.

The complete report can be found here.

Interesting to review for anyone discussing enrollment and possible changes to membership criteria.

Ft. Peck Job Opening, Special Assistant US Attorney

Victoria Sweet

Special Assistant United States Attorney

                The Fort Peck Tribes are seeking an attorney for the full-time position of Special Assistant United States Attorney  to prosecute domestic  violence cases in the Fort Peck Tribal Court  and the District of Montana Federal Court.  Salary DOE.

The job description is available in the HR office at fortpecktribes.org or contact Rita Weeks, rweeks@fptc.org.

Domestic Violence Prevention Conference, Navajo Nation Museum

Victoria Sweet

Domestic Violence Prevention Conference will be held in Window Rock, AZ at the Navajo Nation Museum, October 15 & 16, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Flier with more information:

Domestic PVC 2014

Agenda:

Oct 15 & 16-Draft Agenda

OVW Training on Federal Criminal Databases & DOJ Consultation on Violence Against Women

Victoria Sweet

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is hosting a training session on federal criminal databases and information sharing, October 14, 2014 from 1:30-4:30 p.m in Rapid City, SD. The training is free and will provide information about the various federal criminal databases, requirements for accessing and submitting information to the databases, considerations for tribal leaders working to implement TLOA and VAWA 2013, current DOJ efforts to increase Tribal access to federal criminal databases, and updates on the implementation of Section 905(b) of VAWA 2005.

October 15, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Rapid City, SD is the U.S. Department of Justice’s 9th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation. From the site:

The purpose of the consultation is to solicit recommendations on enhancing safety for American Indian and Alaska Native women, strengthening the Federal response to the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and administering grants funds.

More information and registration is available here.

Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges in Climate Change Initiatives

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The Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges in Climate Change Initiatives is available for download here.

This publication is intended to be an informational resource for tribes, agencies, and organizations across the U.S.

About the Guidelines:

The Third National Climate Assessment issued in May 2014 contained a chapter dedicated to the impact of climate change on tribal peoples. In light of the increasing recognition of the significance of traditional knowledges (TKs) in relation to climate change, a self-organized, informal group of indigenous persons, staff of indigenous governments and organizations, and experts with experience working with issues concerning traditional knowledges (The Climate and Traditional Knowledges Workgroup – CTKW), felt compelled to develop a framework to increase understanding of issues relating to access and protection of TKs in climate initiatives and interactions between holders of TKs and non-tribal partners. The Guidelines were originally developed to inform the Department of Interior’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science (ACCCNRS) in May 2014.