Peacemaking News

Deadline Extended for Position Announcement: Oregon Position Announcement: Tribal judge position in Oregon, very limited hours per week, with some peacemaking interface. Currently it is part-time but it could become more if the Tribal Healing to Wellness Court (Drug Court) becomes operational.  Deadline extended to February 24, 2017. CONFEDERATED TRIBES OFCOOS, LOWER UMPQUA & SIUSLAW INDIANSTRIBAL COURT1245 Fulton Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420Phone (541) 888-1306 or 1-888-280-0726Fax (541) 888-2853 ● Email: tribalct@ctclusi.org Request for QualificationsAssociate… Read More »Deadline Extended for Position Announcement: Oregon

Ontario approves establishment of Indigenous People’s Court in Thunder Bay The Chief Justice’s Office, in the Ontario Court of Justice has approved the establishment of an Indigenous People’s Court in Thunder Bay. The new Court will use a restorative justice approach to sentencing. It will also emphasize Indigenous culture and traditions to help heal Indigenous clients in conflict with the law. Read the full announcement at the CBC News website. Read a related article at… Read More »Ontario approves establishment of Indigenous People’s Court in Thunder Bay

Joint therapeutic court launches in Kenai The Henu’ Community Wellness Court is on the brink of admitting its first participant after more than a year of work to get off the ground. A joint therapeutic-style court formed between the state and the Kenatize Indian Tribe, the program will target and admit those facing long felony sentences relating to substance abuse or Child in Need of Aid cases. Its focus on healing and rehabilitation will help… Read More »Joint therapeutic court launches in Kenai

A Mexican Indigenous Community Finds Its Own Way Dispute resolution and many other functions of government are handled on a radically local level in this Mexican indigenous community.  Not that long ago, community members fought  to reestablish their rights to govern themselves, free from the colonial and cartel forces that have previously taken them for granted. Read more about their community at the Truth Out website.

Exit, Pursued By a Bear: Why Peacemaking Makes Sense in State Court Justice Systems Michigan Judge Timothy Connors advocates peacemaking as an alternative path because “it works,” explaining that this alternative path for state courts helps them live up to their public responsibility to help heal controversy.  The article includes reference to the NARF Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative as well as two advisory committee members – Shawn Watts and Cheryl Fairbanks.  Judge Connors maintains that, as… Read More »Exit, Pursued By a Bear: Why Peacemaking Makes Sense in State Court Justice Systems

The Indigenous Practice That Is Transforming the Adversarial Process A brief but comprehensive read from The Judges’ Journal  providing background in several areas.  First, the author recounts the historical origins of use of circles for justice practices and describes the Kake, Alaska, practice of using circles – Grief Circles, Peacemaking Circles, Suicide Prevention Circles, Celebration Circles, and Sentencing Circles to name a few.  Next, the article summarizes how a circle process works provides an overview… Read More »The Indigenous Practice That Is Transforming the Adversarial Process

Michigan’s Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum – Attempting Great Things Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack explains how Michigan’s tribal , state , and federal courts have created a unique partnership regarding tribal children and families—drawing on their shared goals of ensuring the proper administration of justice within their jurisdictions, resolving disputes in a manner that will be respected and enforced across jurisdictional lines, and serving the children, families, and communities whose welfare depends on… Read More »Michigan’s Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum – Attempting Great Things

SAMHSA Is Accepting Applications for 2017 Grants The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2017 Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Adult Treatment Drug Courts and Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts. Up to $54.6 million in funding is available over the course of three years. APPLICATION DUE DATE: December 12, 2016 by 11:59 pm Eastern time. Applications must be received by the due date… Read More »SAMHSA Is Accepting Applications for 2017 Grants

A Framework for Understanding Tribal Courts and the Application of Fundamental Law Through an examination of scholarly articles, this paperdiscusses traditional tribal justice systems set in tribal communities. This effort establishes a framework for  understanding tribal courts and the unique challenges they face.Read the full scholarly article by April L. Wilkinson in Volume 15 of the Tribal Law Journal at the University of New Mexico Law School website.

There Is Hope: Time to Follow an Indigenous Model for Peace in America I’m a disciple of John Mohawk, a dearly departed Seneca philosopher and professor.  He introduced me to the Great Law, a model for peacemaking and peacekeeping amongst warring nations—communities where there is a genuine divide.  I’m simply going to quote his 2004 take on the Great Law from “The Warriors Who Turned To Peace” and hopefully start a conversation about how we… Read More »There Is Hope: Time to Follow an Indigenous Model for Peace in America

DWI court’s treatment program promotes Native culture   ALBUQUERQUE — Inside the busiest courthouse in New Mexico, Arnett Tafoya stood in the same courtroom where he had appeared numerous times after being charged last year with drunken driving. This time, things were different. There was cake on a table, and Bernalillo County Judge Maria Dominguez praised Tafoya for completing a regimented, court-run treatment program called the Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court — the… Read More »DWI court’s treatment program promotes Native culture

Tribal courts have lessons for children’s courts, judges’ panel says   SANTA FE, N.M. — Peacemaking practices used in indigenous American cultures can have a place in courts dealing with child abuse and neglect within tribes and in nontribal courts, says a new national panel that includes two local judges. Read the full September 4, 2015, article at the Albuquerque Journal website.