tribal courts

Monthly meetings with NAICJA staff, BJA staff Norena Henry and Geislia Barnes

Six virtual roundtables were held March 14, 2023 to March 23, 2023. Participants included individuals interested in providing more insight about collateral consequences in tribal courts. Groups were determined by region.

On May 19, 2023, Brenda Williams, Clinical Director at the University of Washington Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic, contacted NAICJA seeking assistance with holistic defense. UW serves as the primary public defender of misdemeanors at the Tulalip Tribes Tribal Court. Tulalip is considering updating its court structure to include in-house public defense. Brenda attended NAICJA's Tribal Holistic Defense Roundtable Conference and was interested in sharing with the Tulalip Court Administration the concepts of tribal holistic defense as a model for change.

NAICJA staff met with the consultant, Amanda White Eagle, on September 8, 12, and 26 , 2023. On September 26, NAICJA conducted a webinar titled “Perpetual Punishment: Understanding and Addressing Collateral Consequences in Indian Country”. NAICJA is preparing a webinar summary.

TLPI staff, NAICJA staff and consultants collaborated to conducted a webinar “Tribal Healing to Wellness: Developing a Native Veterans Court” on Wednesday, November 14, 2023, to discuss HTWC models for veterans courts particularly the development of the Yurok Veterans Wellness Court.Veterans Webinar with TLPI "An Overview of Legal Issues and Support for Native American and Alaskan Native Veterans"

NAICJA presented on the Native Veterans Legal Assistance Project at the Tribal Nations Gathering on June 26, 2023.

Veterans Webinar with TLPI "An Overview of Legal Issues and Support for Native American and Alaskan Native Veterans"

Presentation Title: “Working Together to Help Families-Holistic Defense, ICWA Attorneys, and Parent Mentors”
Learning Objectives:
Acquire knowledge of collaborative approaches taking place to address parent representation in child welfare cases.
Assess potential solutions that are appropriate to implement and/or adapt into your community.

Presentation Title: Collaborative Approaches to Addressing Collateral Consequences in Tribal Justice Systems 
Learning Objectives:
Identify collateral consequences of criminal arrests and convictions.
Acquire knowledge of collaborative approaches taking place in Indian Country to address collateral consequences.
Assess potential solutions that are appropriate to implement and/or adapt into your community.

NAICJA staff and tribal court holistic defense pilot projects staff from ALSC, NLS, OILS all came to the Bronx Defenders office in Bronx, NYC for an in-person workshop and training.