Sarah Ortegon

Here is a nice resource for peacemakers (and the rest of us!) that can be helpful when memories of traumatic events get triggered. Some quick tips on self- care. Peacemakers can suggest them to participants having difficulties, or you can even keep it handy to help yourself in difficult times.  

Circle Peacemaking: A Timeless Practice Becomes Trendy, authored by Mike A Jackson, is a brief and comprehensive slideshow that was provided in a training on peacemaking by Mike Jackson, IPI Advisory Committee member and recognized leader of circle peacemaking across North America. To view the slideshow, please download it here: https://peacemaking.narf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Circle-Peacemaking-A-Timeless-Practice-Becomes-Trendy.pdf

IPI NARF Attorney Brett Lee Shelton, acting in his personal capacity, had an op-ed published in Indian Country Today. While not related to NARF business, it may be of interest.  Share if you’d like: https://indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/federal-medicaid-policy-provides-much-needed-resources-for-native-communities-lGCHt1iiNkmW9XV1M4bM-w

New Mexico Supreme Court Senior Justice Barbara Vigil gave the keynote address at Building Better Child Welfare Courts Together, an online symposium co-hosted by IPI online on July 30. Other IPI-related speakers included Brett Lee Shelton, Cheryl Fairbanks, Kevin Briscoe, Timothy Connors, Robert Yazzie, and former NARF Board member and longtime supporter Verna Teller .

NEWS: What are Obstacles to Accountability? It is useful for peacemakers is knowing what those around the circle with you are going through.  This short video explains why people struggle with accountability- it’s hard work and uncomfortable, scary. Understanding can help you help them. Check out the video at the link, it’ll be worth your time!  Featuring friend to IPI Sonya Shah! Since May 2020, protesters across the United States are demanding that cities defund… Read More »NEWS: What are Obstacles to Accountability?

The Atlantic magazine just published Why Tribes Should Have the Power to Enforce Strict Coronavirus Policies, by Professor Matthew Fletcher of Michigan State University. There are extremely high stakes involved if nonmembers flout tribal stay-at-home orders. While Fletcher isn’t given the space to address all the facets of the issue, it is true that a community-focused approach, like that encouraged by peace circles, would be better suited to handle public health emergencies. In the meantime,… Read More »NEWS: Why Tribes Should Have the Power to Enforce Strict Coronavirus Policies

The article at this link: https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-announces-pilot-programs-increase-voluntary-resolutions explains that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has opened two pilot programs to help with alternative dispute resolution in employment discrimination cases. The mediation program expands the types of cases that may resolved with mediation, and also allows mediation to be an option at several points in the process- much like some tribes do with peacemaking in court cases. The conciliation program bolsters the agency’s ability to… Read More »NEWS: ARTICLE ON EEOC PILOT PROGRAMS

The University of Denver Conflict Resolution Institute (CRI) (https://www.du.edu/conflictresolution/index.html) put out a bulletin a few weeks ago on Hearing and Listening to Stories of Injustice. It included a wealth of great resources assembled by CRI staff. Those are listed below, and you can sign up for CRI’s newsletter at the website linked above. As you can see from the introductory language below, these materials are highly relevant now, AND much of the wisdom contained in… Read More »NEWS: UNIVERSITY OF DENVER CONFLICT RESOLUTION INSTITUTE BULLETIN

This article features quotes and more from IPI Advisory Committee member Cheryl D. Fairbanks, and Zuni/Navajo Peacemaker Christy Chapman. The article calls for changes to the child welfare legal system, and features peacemaking, and two other methodologies that derive from indigenous circle processes (though the connection to indigenous practices isn’t so clear in the language of the article) as possible advances systems that can implemented. Click here to see the full article: https://youthtoday.org/2020/06/families-communities-systems-need-to-collaborate-to-really-help-whole-child/

This wonderful book tells the Iroquois story of Tadodaho, Hiawatha, and the Peacemaker, with historical references provided and with beautiful illustrations by David Shannon. Also included is a CD by the author, rock music legend and Mohawk and Cayuga Robbie Robertson. This book is beautiful to look at, the story beautiful to read, and really should be a “must-read” for a real American story. Well worth the purchase price to have on hand, and worthy… Read More »NEWS: Hiawatha and the Peacemaker- A Book for Young (and ALL) Readers by Robbie Robertson

NEWS: Oxford Transitional Justice Research Group Seminar On Monday, May 25, 2020 IPI Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton and Advisory Committee Member Judge Tim Connors, as well as Michigan Law Professor Margaret Connors, all participated as guest speakers in a seminar forum on Peacemaking hosted by Advisory Committee Member Carson Smith from the prestigious University Oxford in England. The host organization for the seminar  was the Oxford Transitional Justice Research group.  The seminar was recorded… Read More »NEWS: Oxford Transitional Justice Research Group Seminar

NEWS: Taking Circles Online In the wake of COVID-19 concerns, some restorative justice programs have started to offer assistance online over conferencing platforms like Zoom and WebEx. While Peacemakers know that the experience cannot be the same as when you are in the same room together, there are still conflicts in need of addressing so video-conference circles are being used as the best available option for the present time. The graphic below is the timeline… Read More »NEWS: Taking Circles Online

Canadian Attorney and Friend of IPI David G. Newman, Q.C., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is featured in the recently published Supreme Advocacy article “Advice, and Urging, from a 50-year Lawyer in the Middle of Canada.” Newman’s call to action includes the admonition that western  hemisphere governments can and should work to right the wrongs of the past. This will benefit everyone, not just the descendants of the survivors of those wrongs. But doing so: “now… Read More »NEWS: Advice to Western Civil Societies, from a Long-term First Nations Ally

At this link, you can find a free webinar on the Little Book of Restorative Teaching Tools, sponsored by the Zehr Institute and presented by the authors, Lindsey Pointer and Kathleen McGoey of the Longmont (Colorado) Community Justice Partners program: Includes a wide ranging discussion on how restorative practices can have positive impacts in many different spheres of life and work, focusing on pedagogical approaches.