In this rigorously-researched article, author Stephanie Woodard explores the some harsh realities of federal law enforcement within Native American tribal nations’ jurisdictions, and little-known history of ...

For several years, NARF’s Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative (IPI) has worked closely with Stanford University’s Native American Community Center to help create peacemaking educational programming at Stanford, which in turn has helped IPI build on its own educational abilities. The project has been a resounding success so far. This video was produced at Stanford to help

NARF Attorney Brett Lee Shelton and Peacemaker and Guest Trainer JoAnne Cook are pictured with participants in the first ever Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians Peacemaking Training, held at Seven Arrows Casino and Hotel, Canyonville, Oregon, on April 21-23, 2023.  The energetic and engaged group shows great promise of implementing a strong peacemaking program

California State and Tribal Court judges, and organizers, including NARF Staff Attorney Shelton, pose after the October 26, 2022 Inaugural Central California Tribal Justice Collaborative Judges’ Dinner, held at the Chukchansi Resort near Coarsegold, California.  Shelton was a featured speaker for the program, discussing Indigenizing Child Welfare Decisions. 

            Congratulations to IPI Advisory Committee member Carson Smith, who was recently announced as a recipient of the prestigious Knight-Hennessy scholarship to Stanford University where she will study law. As the biography at the link below shows, she is sure to continue to support and celebrate peacemaking along the way.

    The 12th annual International Cyber-Conference on Dispute Resolution will take place Wednesday April 6, from Noon to 2:30 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time.  This is a global town-hall style dialog between practitioners working in the public and private sectors, and always includes compelling guest speakers from around the world. There is still time to

“Using Peacemaking Circles to Indigenize Tribal Child Welfare” By Lauren van Schilfgaarde & Brett Lee Shelton   Historical child welfare policies explicitly aimed to exterminate Indigenous culture and disrupt tribal cohesion. The remnants of these historical policies serve as the foundation for the contemporary child welfare system. These policies view the child as an isolated

What No One Tells You About Restorative Justice “Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice” By Edward Valandra  Historic land theft justified by the Doctrine of Discovery still plays a major role in normalizing the narrative that settler land rights override Indigenous rights established through (broken) treaties. Addressing the First Harm caused by the

IPI Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton joins UCLA Law Prof. Lauren van Schilfgaarde and NCJFCJ’s Sheldon Spotted Elk in a presentation to the National American Indian Court Judges Association on October 19, 2021 entitled, “Using Peacemaking Circles to Indigenize Tribal Child Welfare.”   The presentation was primarily based on Shelton and van Schilfgaarde’s recent article with

Article in the Detroit Legal News about the Peacemaking Colloquium 2021, held in September in which several IPI  Advisory Committee members played a major role. To see full article, click on link: Detroit Legal News _21_9_20

‘That Went Sideways’ Podcast, Featuring Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton is featured on this episode of ‘That Went Sideways’ podcast, discussing Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative, Indian Boarding Schools and several other topics.  Click the link below to listen:

Peacemaking Course Published in the Detroit Legal News September 23, 2021 Two recent students in a Peacemaking course IPI co-sponsored with several institutions of higher education, Megan Wang and Katie Orringer, drafted a wonderful summary and impression piece that was just published by the Detrol Legal news.  The article even mentions NARF, and IPI Advisory

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Tribal Court and Peacemaking Center’s Film The Pokagon Band of  Potawatomi Tribal Court and Peacemaking Center’s film, Sacred Justice, has been selected as a People’s Choice Finalist in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Film Challenge!  The story of Pokagon Peacemaking and the dedication of Chief Judge Mike Petoskey is now

10th Annual Judicial Gathering for Tribal Justice Collaborative  October 22, 2021 The Tribal Justice Collaborative of California has announced that registration is now open for the 10th AnnualJustice Gathering of California. This is a wonderful opportunity for thoseconcerned with Indian Child Welfare in California to learn and to network.  Peacemaking and other traditional processes relevant to