On 3/11/2024 TLPI held their Virtual Kick Off Meeting for FY 23 CTAS PA 3 Grantees. TLPI TTA Partner NAICJA (National American Indian Court Judges Association), and Deb English, Tribal Court Administrator, Cody Mattison, Contracts Specialist in Grants Department, and Danny Harjo, Grants Department Manager of the Prairie Island Tribal Community joined the virtual meeting via zoom. TLPI presented on the Tribal Courts, Tribal Justice System, and Intergovernmental Collaboration Projection, the broad range of TLPI resources, publications, webinars, and various TTA projects. TLPI also discussed how to request TTA, the TTA TLPI process (which consists of TA Coach assignments, the development of a TA workplan, and a final TA report. in collaboration with grantees and tribal TTA partners.) TLPI then had a discussion with grantees to identify their TTA goals and priorities.
Main focus is a Peacemaking Court - would like an alternative court for the community: Would like things to be settled in a traditional fashion and realize that not everything needs to go in front of a judge. They foresee it providing additional and traditional solutions for the community. They will work with the community and get ides to see what works for community, department, etc. for planning. This then will then be implemented in years 2 and 3, and they will hire more staff in these years to help with the court. Staffing: they do have a contract position, Natasha Gourd, who this project is funding right now, and who is working with a core group including BJ Jones, Stephanie Autum, and Jessica (missed last name) who is outside attorney that is helping create rules and such that is needed for peacemaking. In spring 2024 Natasha plans for 2 weeks out that she will be coming to visit with Police Dept, Tribal Council Members, Family Services Members to get information on what they think this should look like. She was here a couple weeks ago where she met with community members and did a Cafe Session, had about 15 attendees that went well. She also hosted a continental breakfast at tribal court where about 8 people attended.
Issue that has held process up a bit: They just got new Tribal Council so sounds like they may have to re-tool the project a little bit to fit the direction of the new Tribal Council
• Questions from TLPI: per narrative, they will be hiring Court Navigator and Re-entry Coordinator, will these be implemented in years 2 and 3 or hiring now?
They stated they just met with Tribal Council about an hour ago, would like to roll this all up into one position (Coordinator, Navigator, Liaison) but Council would like to leave this in a contract position so going back to square one on this.
They do like the idea but want input from Family Services and Police Department, so services are not overlapping.
They were asked if they have job descriptions and/or training for each position. They do have job descriptions right now, have some training in mind but nothing specific yet and would love ideas/resources around training as well.
Deb will send job descriptions for our review, looking for someone with large background in social work and reentry.
Three Rivers nonprofit that is local and do a lot of what the Tribe is looking for so may go and sit with them to find out where they do their training and if they have any ideas.
Is there any need for any specific resources to build this up and be able to go to Council?
They said they can't think of anything right now but will let us know and keep this in mind.
They were asked if Three Rivers provides services to Tribal members already. Stated that they are willing to but don't think our community has utilized them in the past, a lot of members are not aware of what Three Rivers offers. As Deb was meeting with Tribal Council she was asking if they could bring in some non-profit groups to talk with Tribal members about what they offer and make those connections. There may be something they could offer to the community that is needed - like dialysis transportation.
They were asked if they looking for 1 person for the Peacemaking project or a team? They reported that they think just 1 person, it might seem like a couple positions rolled into one. Currently they have a few resources of people that have done Peacemaking in their community or trained on it - Stephanie Autumn.
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