OJJDP News at a Glance: Juvenile Justice Partners Convene in Indian Country

July/August 2003
Volume II Number 4

Juvenile Justice Partners Convene in Indian Country

On July 1, 2003, more than 170 tribal leaders and community members, juvenile justice officials and practitioners, and others concerned with the well-being of tribal youth gathered for a day-long conference at the Navajo Nation Museum and Library in Window Rock, AZ, the government seat of the Navajo Nation. The conference theme was “Holding Up Both Ends of the Sky: Juvenile Justice Partners in Indian Country.” Participants included representatives from the Four Corners area (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah).

In Window Rock and across the nation, tribal communities face formidable challenges. These communities are beset by high rates of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, alcohol abuse, and gang involvement—all of which expose youth to risk factors for delinquency. The Window Rock conference gave tribal leaders an opportunity to talk openly about these problems and to learn about federally funded programs that can help address them.

Navajo Code Talkers led the opening flag ceremony.

Opening Ceremony

The day�s events began with a welcome�in Navajo and English�from Gwendolyn Keedo, a member of the Navajo Nation�s Office of the Chief Prosecutor. She introduced the Klagetoh Swingers, who sang a traditional song, and members of the Navajo Code Talker Association, who led the flag ceremony and were warmly acknowledged throughout the day. The reigning Miss Navajo Nation, Shaunda Tsosie, gave the opening prayer, first in Navajo and then in English.

OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores, whose recent 8-day tour of Indian Country included visits to Tribal Youth Program sites in Arizona and Utah, welcomed attendees. Administrator Flores called on participants to share information and establish an ongoing dialogue.

Videoconference

Lamont Yazzie (left) and staff from the Navajo Nation�s Boys & Girls Clubs helped during the conference.

After the opening ceremony, conference participants at Window Rock were joined by hundreds of individuals nationwide for the first-ever tribal videoconference held in Indian Country. Hosted by OJJDP and Eastern Kentucky University�s Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Project, this 2-hour program, which was broadcast live, was viewed by groups at 108 sites in 32 states, plus more than 1,000 individuals who watched it on the Internet.

During the videoconference, Administrator Flores was joined by a panel of distinguished tribal representatives: Bill Burke, Chief of the Walla Walla Tribe; Frank Dayish, Jr., Vice President of the Navajo Nation; and Willie Noseep, Councilman of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. Each of these representatives has made significant contributions to the lives of youth in his community.

OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Program

OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Program (TYP) was established by Congress in 1999 to address the rising rate of juvenile crime in tribal communities. TYP’s objectives are as follows:

Provide prevention services to reduce risk factors for delinquency.
Provide interventions for court-involved youth.
Improve tribal juvenile justice systems.
Provide prevention programs that focus on alcohol and drugs.

Since FY 1999, OJJDP has awarded 145 grants to tribes throughout the United States.

For additional information, visit OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Program Web page (go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp, click on "Programs,” and select the Tribal Youth Program).

The broadcast featured video documentaries on six tribal youth programs:

The Hozhooji Youth Diversion Project (HYDP), Window Rock, AZ, gives first-time offenders and their families tools, resources, and traditional sources of strength (i.e., �hozhooji� or harmony) to avoid crime and delinquency in the future.
The Project Free Mental Health Program, Choctaw, MS, addresses the needs of Choctaw youth who are involved in the local juvenile justice system and who have mental health problems.
The Cherokee Challenge, Cherokee, NC, provides service-learning opportunities and experiences for Cherokee youth through sessions that explore Cherokee culture and emphasize community responsibility and ownership.
The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, Spokane, WA, helps tribal youth and their families heal from the trauma of alcohol and drug abuse.
The Wind River Youth Justice Project,Wind River,WY, addresses violent crime by tribal youth through a multifaceted approach that incorporates accountability,timely intervention, appropriate case resolution, and continuity of services.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks, AK, operates pilot youth courts in 14 tribal villages to address youth crime and related behaviors.

To view the videoconference �Holding Up Both Ends of the Sky� on the Web, visit www.juvenilenet.org/jjtap/archives/sky/. Videotapes of the conference are available for $15 from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (call 800�638�8736).

Resources Panel

Following a traditional lunch served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Navajo Nation, conference participants reconvened for a panel session on �Juvenile Justice Issues and Resources for Indian Country.� Audience members stressed the importance of incorporating American Indian languages into tribal youth programs, asked how to implement a community 4�H Club, and mentioned the need for treatment shelters for tribal women and children. Panelists suggested ways for tribal partners to apply for federal funding, access information, and marshal resources.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.

News @ a Glance is OJJDP�s bimonthly newsletter, bringing you up-to-date notices of agency activities, recent publications, funding opportunities, and upcoming events—with an emphasis on providing quick access to online sources for publications and other resources. Let us know what types of features would be most useful to you (e-mail [email protected]).

Subscribe to and receive OJJDP News @ a Glance electronically so you can be sure to receive every issue. Visit the OJJDP home page at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp/ and click on "OJJDP News @ a Glance" in the "Get Information" box.

NCJ 201242