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Peacemaking News

WORKSHOP: “Healing Historical Trauma in Native America and the US – operationalizing from Rocks, Karma, Arrows”

WORKSHOP: “Healing Historical Trauma in Native America and the US – operationalizing from Rocks, Karma, Arrows” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June. One of our workshops at the conference will be using a a performance “Rocks, Karma, Arrows” from a local theater group to address the following objectives: Basic understanding of historical federal policy shifts toward Indigenous nations of the United States; historical context of Rocks,… Read More »WORKSHOP: “Healing Historical Trauma in Native America and the US – operationalizing from Rocks, Karma, Arrows”

SAVE THE DATE: June 14-16, 2019 “Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle” Conference by NACRJ

The National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) is hosting their conference June 14-16, 2019 in Denver, CO. The Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative (IPI) Advisory Committee members will be sharing their knowledge at seven workshops at the conference. Please join the NACRJ and IPI for this enlightening event. Workshops by IPI include: “Healing Historical Trauma in Native America and the US- operationalizing from Rocks, Karma & Arrows” by Brett Lee Shelton & Sheldon Spotted Elk… Read More »SAVE THE DATE: June 14-16, 2019 “Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle” Conference by NACRJ

Article – “Beyond VAWA: Protecting Native Women From Sexual Violence Within Existing Tribal Jurisdictional Structures”

Article – “Beyond VAWA: Protecting Native Women From Sexual Violence Within Existing Tribal Jurisdictional Structures” This article addresses different approaches that Tribal nations might use to address cases involving domestic violence. Included is a good description of peacemaking and the considerations of its suitability in these cases, as well as a discussion of diversion programs, which might yield outcomes similar to peacemaking in certain circumstances.  https://peacemaking.narf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Allison-Article-VAWA-00199254x9D7F5.pdf

Peacemaker Patrick Wilson Honored in Michigan

Peacemaker Patrick Wilson Honored in Michigan The Michigan Supreme Court and the Tribal-State-Federal Judicial Forum honored Peacemaker Patrick Wilson, from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, for his instrumental work on the Forum and for helping install peacemaking in the Washtenaw County state court.  (click here for the news release)

News – Peacemaking featured in Trends in State Courts 2018 Annual Publication

News – Peacemaking featured in Trends in State Courts 2018 Annual Publication Native American peacemaking practices are examined in this article including differentiating between peacemaking and other forms of dispute resolution, appropriate issues to take to peacemaking programs, and how and when in the court process a case get referred to a peacemaking program. Read the full summary here.

News – “As drug courts expand across the country, this tribe was one of the first for Native Americans”

News – “As drug courts expand across the country, this tribe was one of the first for Native Americans” Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Court celebrates 20 years of service this year. Congratulations Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa, check out the article here for more details:https://www.circa.com/story/2018/12/13/nation/drug-court-for-native-americans-in-the-sault-ste-marie-tribe-of-chippewa-indians-has-been-perfected-over-time

News – “New Poll: When It Comes to Addressing Crime, New Mexico Voters Want Rehabilitation not Incarceration

News – “New Poll: When It Comes to Addressing Crime, New Mexico Voters Want Rehabilitation not Incarceration More and more, people are starting to see the benefits of alternatives to the adversarial system.  A recently published poll in New Mexico reveals that 75% support rehabilitation and treatment over punitive approaches to crime, click on the picture below to view the summary of the poll conducted by nmSAFE Coalition.

Denver, CO – Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative to Present at AFCC 13th Annual Symposium on Child Custody

Denver, CO – Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative to Present at AFCC 13th Annual Symposium on Child Custody On Friday, November 9, 2018 IPI members Tim Connors and Brett Shelton will present at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) for an afternoon (3:30-5:00 PM) session: Evidence Reboot: From Traditional Custody Evaluation to Peacemaking.  If you are in the area, come out and see IPI in action!

Lansing Michigan “Tribal Justice” screening with special guest Abby Abinanti

Lansing Michigan “Tribal Justice” screening with special guest Abby Abinanti On October 31, 2018, there will be a special screening of the documentary “Tribal Justice” along with a talk by the Honorable Abby Abinanti, one of the two Tribal Judges featured in the film.  The event will take place at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, from 9 am to noon, and will also feature a panel of state and tribal judges discussing the… Read More »Lansing Michigan “Tribal Justice” screening with special guest Abby Abinanti

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Honor Peacemaker Timothy Connors

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Honor Peacemaker Timothy Connors The Nme’ Peacemaking Gavel by Patrick D. Wilson About three years ago my good friend and fellow Peacemaker Judge Timothy Connors attended the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Sturgeon Release. Tim relayed that he was immensely moved and felt a profound connection to the Sturgeon and to the release program. I helped put on an art exhibit at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the… Read More »Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Honor Peacemaker Timothy Connors

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hears Testimony from Yurok Tribal Court’s Abbi Abinanti

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hears Testimony from Yurok Tribal Court’s Abbi Abinanti Peacemaking Judge Abby Abinanti, Chief Judge of the Yurok Tribal Court, spoke to congress in regards to Justice for Native American Youth, follow this link: “Justice for Native Youth: the GAO Report on ‘Native American Youth: “Involvement in Justice Systems and Information on Grants to Help Address Juvenile Delinquency.’” to read the transcript.

Indigenous Peacemaking Goes to International Forum

Indigenous Peacemaking Goes to International Forum Carson Smith of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma traveled to Caux, Switzerland this July to speak at the Caux Forum on “Just Governance for Human Security”. The international cross-section of participants at the event created a perfect environment to discuss human rights on a global scale. Carson’s presentation generally focused on Peacemaking in the United States and how this process furthers indigenous human rights and tribal sovereignty. Most of… Read More »Indigenous Peacemaking Goes to International Forum

NEWS – Life Comes From It – first of its kind grantmaking circle

NEWS – Life Comes From It – first of its kind grantmaking circle The Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative is pleased to be helping spread the word about the establishment of a new initiative, Life Comes From It.  This is a  first of its kind grantmaking circle where decisions are made by people heavily steeped in restorative Justice, transformative justice, and indigenous peacemaking. Life Comes From It describes its mission as follows: Our Mission Life Comes From… Read More »NEWS – Life Comes From It – first of its kind grantmaking circle

Article: “Penobscot Nation drug court finds success by connecting participants with their roots”

Article: “Penobscot Nation drug court finds success by connecting participants with their roots” Penobscot Healing to Wellness Court has been in existence for 10 years and is benefiting the community in numerous ways, check out the article and the success of one man’s healing journey. Penobscot Nation drug court finds success by connecting participants with their roots

“Spirituality and Peacemaking” – Peacemakers From Across Turtle Island Gather for Advanced Training

“Spirituality and Peacemaking” – Peacemakers From Across Turtle Island Gather for Advanced Training Pictured here are participants in the Advanced Peacemaker Training Course, “Spirituality and Peacemaking” which took place on, August 24, 2018 at the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal  Court Building in Manistee, Michigan. We are grateful to all of the fantastic Peacemakers who attended and shared their knowledge.

Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Hosts IPI

Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Hosts IPI On August 3, 2018 the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Peacemakers presented to the All- Potawatomi National Gathering Judicial Conference.  Also there to share their knowledge were Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative members.

Peacemakers at “The Movement of Movements: The Healing Worldview of Indigenous Peoples” Conference

Peacemakers at “The Movement of Movements: The Healing Worldview of Indigenous Peoples” Conference #TBT to last week when Karen Biestman (Stanford University), Brett Lee Shelton (IPI Senior Staff Attorney), and Jasmine Yepa (Jemez Pueblo), spoke about IPI’s work and advances in Peacemaking at the National Native Philanthropy Institute at Santa Ana Pueblo on June 14.

Peacemakers At Work -Pokagon Basket of Tribal Wisdom Training

Peacemakers At Work -Pokagon Basket of Tribal Wisdom Training Monday, June 11, at Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, in preparation for a peacemaking training, IPI Advisory Committee member Cheryl Fairbanks, Pokagon traditional leader Clarence White, IPI Advisory Committee member and Chief Judge of Pokagon Tribal Courts Michael Petoskey, IPI Senior Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton pose after meeting to discuss traditional dispute resolution in Pokagon country.

Basket of Tribal Wisdom – Weaving Tradition and Justice (June 12-13, 2018)

Basket of Tribal Wisdom – Weaving Tradition and Justice (June 12-13, 2018) Pokégnek Bodéwadmik (Pokagon Band of Potwatomi) and the Native American Rights Fund will be hosting a joint workshop combining basket weaving and Native Justice/Peacemaking Principles facilitated by Cheryl Fairbanks and Brett Lee Shelton of the Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative.  See the flyer for details.