Tribal Courts

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is a FY24 Adult Treatment Court Grantee. TTA Coach/Wellness Court Legal Specialist Jacob Metoxen met with HWC Coordinator Kathleen Gregoire, grant writer Tina Poncho, and Judge Daniel Stretcher on November 26, 2024. This introductory call included an overview of available TTA services and review of their HWC progress and goals. Follow up occurred on November 27, 2024 that included a sharing of resources discussed during the introductory call.

TLPI's Tribal Justice TTA Project includes Objective 3 to provide and support general training on- and offsite with Task 3.4: Offer up to 5 scholarships to jurisdictions planning new treatment courts to support attendance at TLPI's annual THWC Enhancement Training. Three people were supported for the 2024 Implementation and Enhancement Training: Pine Ridge Transitional Living Program Director, Ute Tribal Public Defender, and Blackfeet Veterans Alliance Administrator.

The Mentor Court Program remained highly active this reporting period.
Onsite visits

Wellness Court Specialist Angie Juarez-Monger presented the newly developed TLPI veteran infographic, "Models for Integrating Veterans' Services with Tribal healing to Wellness Courts" at the 2024 NAIJCA National Tribal Judicial and Court Personnel Conference during the Native American Veterans, Veteran Justice Outreach, and Veteran Treatment Courts session.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) have a long tradition of service in the U.S. military. AIAN veterans are experiencing the negative outcomes of their military service in the form of high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicide, "functional disabilities," housing instability, and low employment rates, compared to other veterans. Thus, "access to justice" for AIAN veterans then can be particularly complex.

All Rise referred Yurok Tribe's Foundational Training application to TLPI as TLPI would be developing a tribal-specific foundational training. A second TTA request from Yurok was also received by TLPI. Wellness Court Specialist Kristina Pacheco clarified that the TTA request was a duplicated request for foundational training. An initial planning meeting with Yurok was set for February 2024.

Judge Diane Cabrera requested TTA for the Lower Elwha S'klallam Tribe (FY20 CTAS - Purpose Area 3 grantee) in February 2024. Wellness Court Specialist Kristina Pacheco set up an initial meeting on March 11, 2024, which resulted in a request for onsite TTA for training of new team members and THWC coordinator, particularly on the Tribal Key Components, team building, culture and language in court proceedings, and a new approach in blending with their Family Healing to Wellness Court.

TLPI has been selected to self-certify Conference Request forms but required to submit a form per the formal process for the Rise25 conference. The form was submitted December 2024 and is still pending at the end of the reporting period. The conference dates are May 28-31, 2025.

TLPI has been selected to self-certify Conference Request forms but required to submit a form using the formal submission process for the 2025 American Indian Justice Conference. The form was submitted December 2024 and is pending at the end of this reporting period. The conference dates are May 13-15, 2025.

This reporting period a Sister Court visit occurred: Sister Court Salt River Pima visited Mentor Court New Mexico Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Court, and a visit by Sister Court Cher-Ae Heights Community of the Trinidad Rancheria at New Mexico Urban continues to be planned.