Agenda subject to change; please check back for updates.
WEEK ONE
October 6, 2020
Opening Plenary | Sovereignty of the Soul: Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Native America
Tuesday, October 6th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Sarah Deer, citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, Professor at the University of Kansas
Sarah Deer will share information about the history of violence against women and two-spirit (LGBTQ+) people in tribal communities and legal changes that will allow tribal nations to assert sovereignty over criminal and civil cases involving victims of crime. The keynote will highlight the role of advocates in engaging in law reform with an aim for justice for marginalized communities. Participants will learn historical context for sexual victimization in tribal communities, review basic legal restrictions on tribal jurisdiction over criminal activity and explore victim-led solutions to address the high rates of sexual assault in Indian country.
October 7, 2020
Plenary | A Silent Epidemic: Sexual Violence Against Men and Boys
Wednesday, October 7th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Lenny Hayes, MA, citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton-Oyate, Project Assistant Sovereign Bodies Institute
Men are often neglected as victims of all forms of sexual violence including being abused as a boy. It is frightening to realize how widespread sexual abuse and violence is in our society and yet how strong the denial of it is. Through the presenter’s own personal story of child sexual abuse, Lenny will discuss the mental health issues that impacts boys and men who experience sexual violence and define the issues that prevent the individual from healing and having healthy relationships.
WEEK TWO
October 12, 2020
Indigenous Peoples Day Virtual Celebration
Monday, October 12th; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (ET)
- In the face of so much uncertainty, acutely felt by Indigenous communities, we must amplify celebration. Last year, we came together in person to celebrate Idaho’s historic Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation at the Idaho Capitol Rotunda. To ensure we all stay safe during COVID-19, we’re moving the celebration to a virtual platform through Zoom this year. Our hope is to bring together even more voices, faces, music, and art spanning across the tribal communities in Idaho. We’re learning through the pandemic that technology is a new way of being in community with one another. This Virtual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration is coordinated by the Indigenous Idaho Alliance.
October 13, 2020
Workshop | Showing Up In A Good Way: Best Practices for Domestic Violence Advocacy in Indigenous Communities
Tuesday, October 13th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Tai Simpson, citizen of the Nimiipuu nation, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
A tapestry of sovereignty, jurisdiction, culture, ceremony, language, and matriarchy is the backdrop for best practices when providing domestic violence prevention and response services within Indigenous Communities. The findings of the Idaho Thriving Families grant listening sessions will be presented during this session. Additionally, we explore lessons learned through the duration of our grant work. These lessons inform best practices on how new and experienced advocates can build capacity in serving Native families impacted by violence in Idaho.
October 14, 2020
Plenary | Organizing to Address Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives
Wednesday, October 14th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Nicole Matthews, member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition
Greater attention has been brought to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. Nicole will share information and engage participants in a conversation around organizing efforts and strategies to elevate the visibility of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. She will discuss what makes Native people more vulnerable to being murdered or to disappear, what these issues look like in your community, how and if systems and media respond, and what confidentiality looks like in these cases.
October 15, 2020
Workshop | Why is Historical Context Important and How Do We Shift the Narrative About Victimization?
Thursday, October 15th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Sheena Gilbert, citizen of Stockbridge Munsee, Graduate Assistant at the University of Nebraska Omaha
Native American’s have a history of violence and victimization and it’s important to understand the historical context of this violence and victimization and how historical context is still relevant today. Additionally, we need to be more open about having discussions about domestic violence, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, dating violence, and trafficking. When we share our stories with one another and pass them down between generations, we may build a stronger community and gain a better understanding of how to protect ourselves. It is important to continue to build a bridge between researchers, law enforcement, victim services, and other criminal justice agencies by explaining that our stories are our data, and that these (qualitative) data are just as valuable as numerical statistics.
WEEK THREE
October 20, 2020
Workshop | National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Tuesday, October 20th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Jessica Hager, NamUs Regional Program Specialist
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons across the United States. Funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice and managed through a cooperative agreement with the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, all NamUs resources are provided at no cost to law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, allied forensic professionals, and family members of missing persons. Jessica will provide information on the benefits surrounding the use of the NamUs system, discuss the biometric resources that are provided through NamUs/UNTCHI and demonstrate how to register and use the NamUs system.
October 21, 2020
Workshop | Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018
Tuesday, October 21st; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Tyesha M. Wood, Project Coordinator for AMBER Alert in Indian Country
This session will be an introduction to AMBER Alert in Indian Country (AIIC) and resources that are available to address missing and exploited children’s issues in Native communities. The AIIC initiative supports federally recognized Tribal communities in developing programs to safely recover endangered missing or abducted children through the coordinated efforts of the tribes and their local, state and federal partners by using training and technology to enhance response capacities, capabilities and increase public participation in protecting children. Attendees will also gain an understanding of the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018 and the ongoing efforts of AIIC to support the implementation of this Act.
October 22, 2020
Panel | Law Enforcement Panel Discussion
Thursday, October 22nd; 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (PT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (MT) / 1:00 am – 3:00 pm (CT) / 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (ET)
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Indian Country exists within a complex web of jurisdictions. As a result, obstacles stand in the way of violence prevention and response for many of our Indigenous communities. Join us for a moderated panel discussion including members of law enforcement as we work together to find solutions.
WEEK FOUR
October 28, 2020
Panel | Sovereignty & Jurisdiction in Indian Country
Wednesday, October 28th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Melanie Fillmore citizen of the Lakota nation, PhD candidate; Chantel Greene, citizen of the Nimiipuu nation, Vice Chairwoman Nez Perce Tribe; Ernie Weyand, Department of Justice MMIP Coordinator
From representing Tribal Governance through testimony at the state legislature, to working on data analysis, and coordinating National efforts with the Department of Justice—all t require a deep knowledge of community and collaborative conversations. Panelists in this webinar will discuss their connection to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons and how collaborative conversations help efforts to address this issue in Idaho.
October 29, 2020
Panel | Stories of Violence, Resilience, and Going Home
Thursday, October 29th; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT) / 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (MT) / 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (CT) / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)
- Any work within Indigenous communities must be led by the community members most impacted by violence. We have an obligation to support the healing and resilience of survivors by intentionally creating space for them to share their stories. Their stories help others heal. Survivors illuminate what is standing in the way of justice and their stories aid in creating effective response resources. Survivors show us the foundation of how we address, mitigate and prevent violence in Indigenous communities. Join us for a moderated panel discussion of Indigenous survivors as they share their stories of violence, resilience, and going home.
Conference Closing
