PHOTOS – Pokagon Peacemaking Training Turtle Talk featured photos of IPI’s training last week at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Dowagiac Michigan. IPI Advisory Committee Members pictured below are Brett Lee Shelton, Chief Judge Michael Petoskey, and Chief Justice Emeritus Robert Yazzie. Photo Credit: Turtle Talk by Matthew L.M. Fletcher  

WORKSHOP: “Cultural Intervention as Alternative Juvenile Justice and Prevention” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June.  This workshop will address the following objectives: Community-based circles with juvenile offenders can be used as a diversion for minor offenses, clearing their record and preventing a snowball effect of repeated offenses.

WORKSHOP: “Starting a Peacemaking Program: Cultural Recovery in Indigenous Communities” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June.  This workshop will address the following objectives: What planning and community organizing steps and approaches have worked to develop successful community-based peacemaking programs? Lessons learned from successful peacemaking program administration over

WORKSHOP: “Incorporating Indigenous Conflict Prevention, Healing, and Harmony Models into Higher Education” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June.  This workshop will address the following objectives: Exposure to challenges in the overarching curriculum used to train practitioners. Ways to develop courses and training to expose others to actual practices,

RETREAT: “Building A Path To Peace” July 7-14, 2019 Rare, one-week transformative immersion peacemaking training, from innovators who sparked the peacemaking movement…. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Register by June 21, 2019, see flyer for details.

WORKSHOP: “Indigenous Dispute Systems Design (Indigenous Planning, Dispute Systems Design, and Field Theory)” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June.  This workshop will address the following objectives: Introduction to the growing field of Indigenous Dispute Systems Design; Getting Community involved in systems design- how to, benefits, and required

9th annual International Cyber-Conference on Dispute Resolution (April 10th) You are invited  to our 9th annual International Cyber-Conference on Dispute Resolution, Wed. April 10, 2019 @ 12-2:30 pm (Pacific Coast Time). IPI advisors Polly Hyslop and Brett Lee Shelton will be presenting. Download the conference agenda. For nearly a decade, the International Cyber-Conference, starting in

WORKSHOP: “Implementing Peacemaking Circles in Higher Education at Stanford University” IPI will be at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference in June.  This workshop will address the following objectives: One cutting-edge model for teaching non-native college students several beneficial practices associated with indigenous peacemaking circles. Successful model to Integrate peace circles into college

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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 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

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.

Screening – “Tribal Justice” and discussion Ethical & Jurisdictional Considerations IPI’s own, Chief Justice Michael Petoskey will be speaking on a panel after the movie screening, provide unique insight of tribal courts and peacemaking models .  If you are in the area, check it out, see flyer below for details!