Feb 2013: Emergency Management and Public Safety For Tribal Officials Training

Many tribes these days are coming to grips with the fact that the damage a natural disaster can bring to a community doesn't stop when the emergency is over. Our Native trainers, and our partners at Risk and Rewards Management Group, have decades of experience with planning for disasters, establishing mutual aid agreements and mitigating the impact of a fire, drought, tornado, hurricane or winter storm on a tribal community.

The training will be held in Albuquerque, NM February 26-27, 2013.

Click here to learn more about this training opportunity.  Click here to register.

Native Women May Be Excluded From VAWA Reauthorization

Rumors are swirling in DC about what's stalling the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The House bill, which stripped protections for Native women victimized by non-Native men, among other groups, must be reconciled with a more inclusive Senate version. Indian Country Today Media Network was able to get some confirmation that the GOP is blocking the reauthorization solely to prevent the inclusion of protections for Native women. Representative Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma and a member of the Chickasaw nation, argues that Tribes deserve local jurisdiction and that tribes need effective police power and protection in their own territory. The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women also clarifies some of the facts about Title IX, Safety For Indian Women.

If you want Native women to have protection from domestic violence—no matter who commits it— contact Congressman Eric Cantor, who is leading the negotiations to draft new legislation before Congress breaks for the holidays.

Minnesota Tribes Battling Flood of Heroin

Read the whole story at Indian Country Today Media Network. The news from the Minnesota tribes is grim, but there are solutions to be found in education and community coalitions that battle this problem, starting with preventing and treating prescription painkiller addiction.  Besides destroying the user's life and health, heroin use results in increased crime, HIV and hepatitis infections, and children living in filthy and dangerous environments. Tribes are working with county, state and federal officials to turn this around, but they also need help from all concerned community members, from caregivers to teachers and from health care workers to law enforcement officers and Tribal courts.

Beware of Online Pharmacy Extortion Scheme

The DEA is warning people who have purchased prescription drugs on the Internet that they may be a target of a fraudulent extortion scheme. Victims have been telephoned by criminals posing as DEA agents and demanding payment of a fine for purchasing prescriptions over the Internet. A wire transfer payment is demanded, and victims who are reluctant to pay have been threatened with arrest and property searches.

To avoid becoming a victim of this or other criminal schemes, ensure that any prescriptions you purchase online are from pharmacies that are registered with the DEA. Ordering from unknown entities put you at risk of receiving unsafe or counterfeit drugs, and at risk of compromising your personal information.

Dangerous New Drug Made from OTC Ingredients

We sounded the warning over a year ago that abuse of prescription painkillers would lead to an uptick in heroin addiction and unhappily, our predictions are coming through. Opiate addicts are turning to cheap Mexican heroin when they can no longer afford the prescription drugs. Seasoned drug enforcement officers predict that prices will slowly climb for the heroin. What will users do then?

The DEA is concerned that we might see the trend that has been horrifying Russians, just as they thought they had stemmed the tide of heroin from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. Deprived of their drug of choice, heroin addicts are turning to a vile, but inexpensive, recipe of over-the-counter drugs and household chemicals called Krokodil. The street name for this morphine-analog comes from the common side effect of scaly green skin as the user's body rots from the inside out. Click below to see a disturbing video about how Krokodil has been destroying lives in Siberia. Let's not let it happen in Indian Country!

Don't Be A Victim of Holiday Crime

The highest crime rate of the year is during the holiday season. Consider the following safety tips this shopping season to better protect yourself:

Keep all valuable items close to you. Don’t put your purse or shopping bags down when you’re looking at other items on display. Thieves will take advantage of this short period of inattentiveness as a window to snag all your belongings. Keep your purse shut and tucked under your arm. Never leave any of your belongings unattended. When sitting at a restaurant don’t hang your purse on the back of the chair.

There is safety in numbers. If possible, shop in a group or with another person. Thieves often times work in groups. One thief will distract you by bumping into you and the other will rob you. If you are shopping with a group of people, it’s more difficult and less likely for a robbery to occur.

Don’t talk to strangers. We tell our children this, but as adults we should also follow this rule. As mentioned earlier, thieves will try to distract you. They often do this by asking you questions or for help while their partner in crime is stealing your belongings.

Have your keys in hand. When you are walking to your car make sure you already have your keys handy. Muggers count on people being distracted as they’re fumbling for their keys. Walk with confidence and be very alert to anyone walking up on you. Prior to getting in your car be sure no one has broken in and climbed in the back seat. And, once you get in your car, immediately lock the doors.

Trust your intuition. If you are getting a bad vibe from someone, trust your instinct. Don’t get into an elevator alone with someone if it doesn’t feel right. Be aware of anyone who might be following you or seems suspicious. Try to park as close to the store as you can and in a well lit area, if shopping at night. If you are particularly nervous, go to the security office and ask someone to escort you to your car.

Quick Preparedness Guide

There are at least six Indian nations in the path of Hurricane Sandy, although the Shinnecock Indian Nation of Long Island is likely to suffer the worst; residents are being evacuated to an American Red Cross shelter at Hampton Bays High School. FEMA is advising people to be prepared for hurricanes, heavy rains and flooding and winter storms.
If you're in the path, here's your last minute preparation guide:
• Get some emergency supplies, including food and water, for yourself, your pets and your family for up to 3 days; be sure to get cash back, as power outages will disrupt banking.
• Make sure you have at least a half a tank of gas in your car.
• Make a plan with your family and love ones about where to meet and stay if evacuated or if the weather becomes very cold while the power is out. Find the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER plus your 5-digit ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA). Example: SHELTER 10005
• Protect your property by covering your windows and clearing branches away from your roof.
• Make arrangements to keep your cell phone charged at all times so you can continue to stay informed of changing conditions.

Along with the rest of the nation, we hope those who are in the storm's path will stay safe and that the disruption to your lives will be minimal.

Upcoming Training Opportunity: Drugs of Abuse

Learn to recognize the signs of methamphetamine use, prescription drug and over the counter drug abuse, synthetic drug use or heroin use in tribal housing. In addition to identification, participants will learn effective abatement strategies.

Click on the link to learn more about our upcoming training in Scottsdale, AZ. This two day, interactive program is free for Indian Tribe or Tribal Housing Authority employees. Any other participants can register for $50. Click here to register online.

Rx Drug Take Back Day Nets 244 Tons

Americans turned in 488,395 pounds of prescription and over the counter drugs on Saturday to DEA agents nationwide. Removing these prescription medications from circulation cuts down on the potential for abuse and its catastrophic consequences.  All together, the Take Back events have collected over 1018 tons of prescription pills. We're making progress!

Take Action to Help Native Women

October is the month to take action to support justice for Native women throughout the United States. You can sign a petition encouraging Congress to take immediate action to pass the reauthorization of VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, September 29

Coming To A Site Near You

The best way not to become a party to prescription drug abuse is to avoid having drugs in the house that are unused or expired. Prescription and over the counter drugs should never be flushed or put down the drain, to avoid contaminating the water supply. Instead, they must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

To make disposing of unused drugs easier, the DEA will be accepting any pills or liquids you have lying around your house, between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday, September 29. To find the nearest collection site, go to the DEA website to search by your zip code. You can also call 1-800-882-9539 for more information about the program.

September Newsletter: End the Cycle of Violence * Free Resources * Disaster Response * Support Native Business

Click here for the Lamar Associates-Indian Country Training September Newsletter. In this issue, you will find information on ending the cycle on domestic violence, news about upcoming training opportunities, CDC alerts, improving disaster response for tribes, free online training, and our featured Native business of the month.

Stay Healthy This Fall!

The seasons are changing and it's time for flu shots! Swine flu (H5N1) can now be transmitted through airborne particles, so it's critical to go in to the nearest clinic. How else is H5N1 different from flu viruses of the past? Take this quiz and be amazed at how much there is to learn about.

Check out Indian Country Today for Walter's other recommendations on how to avoid swine flu, seasonal flus and other epidemics, particularly whooping cough (pertussis) and West Nile Virus.

Preparation Is Key When Disaster Strikes

Recent wildfires throughout Indian Country recently reminded us that by the time you start smelling smoke, it's too late to make your plan, get a kit together of things you may need for a few days, and make a safe escape. Check out this recent article in Indian Country Today for some tips on what you can do to prepare for this season's hazards.

Indian Country Needs Better Crime Data

When we read stories like this one, about trying to build a successful law enforcement and crime prevention program without adequate crime data, we appreciate what a serious problem that is. Among the recommendations for effective implementation of the Tribal Law and Order Act are recommendations about collecting and using standardized data. Better record-keeping enables courts to identify offenders who would benefit from alternate sentencing, like drug courts.  Compiling and sharing the data means that offenders can't skip from reservation to reservation.

If your tribal law enforcement department wants to improve your data collection or analysis, Lamar Associates can help you conform to national standards and best practices.

Ready for the zombie apocalypse?

Have a plan, make a kit, be prepared. Even though the CDC doesn't actually think a zombie apocalypse is imminent, the same strategies that will keep you safe from zombies will keep you safe from the much more real threat of earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Traditional Native Values: Saying No To Drugs

Social scientists from Arizona State University are making waves with their research on how spirituality and religion are leading factors in preventing urban Native youth from using drugs. As Indian Country Today reports, middle school children who have strong Christian or traditional Native traditions in their homes are more likely to reject offers to try a drug.

At Lamar Associates, we have appreciated for years how important it is to weave Native traditions and spirituality into all the work we do. Because Indian Country is who we are and what we do, our tailored training programs always honor this perspective. Our religions and spirituality and our sense of family and community are not only intertwined, but they are critical keys to healing our people, whether they are living on the reservation or in a city.

Sex Trafficking and Social Media

Facebook is only one of the social media companies that has been struggling with preventing sex trafficking and child pornography, but it's been getting the most attention lately. Although content moderators work long hours to visually check content, no sooner does one fraudulent account get deleted, but an identical one pops up. As New Mexico prosecutors recently learned while trying to bust up an online prostitution ring, laws in many states need to be updated to reflect changing conditions. State prosecutors cleared charges against a former UNM president and others because online prostitution is not illegal under state law. Watch for this month's Lamar Associates newsletter to learn ways you and your children can stay safe and avoid associating with online predators.

Sex Offenders in Your Community

When released from prison, there are few restrictions that prevent sex offenders from living anywhere they want. Depending on the case, some individuals may be released without supervision. A recent report from the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing (DOJ COPS) offers individuals more information about steps taken to monitor sex offenders and how to protect your family.

A few key tips from the report:
• Check the National Sex Offender Public Website to see if there any sex offenders are living within three miles of your home or children's school.
• Practicing proactive parenting, including monitoring Internet use, and regularly checking the offender website can alert you to suspicious individuals quickly.
• Understand the differences among the types of offenders.
• Encourage any offenders you know to fully comply with court orders.

Click here to download the full report.

Dangers of Rural Law Enforcement

Walter Lamar  honoring fallen officers
BIA Officer Memorial in Artesia, NM. 2012 

Every officer working on a reservation or in a rural area understands how dangerous the work can be. Understaffing leads to long shifts and poor backup; long distances and bad roads contribute to a disproportionate number of vehicular accidents. Recognizing a need to improve officer safety and survival, Lamar Associates/ Indian Country Training is partnering with Narrowgate Security Agency (NGSA) to provide a dynamic, three-day training course that includes two days of live fire exercises.

Did you know:
An officer is killed in Indian Country on an average of every 20 months.
Indian Country officers are more than 36 times more likely to be assaulted in the line of duty than Department of Homeland Security officers.
Indian Country officers are assaulted at twice the national rate.
60% of Federal officer assaults occur in western states.
43% of officer deaths are the result of gunfire and 35% are result from vehicular accidents (including vehicle assault and accidents during pursuit).
BIA police are victims of almost one-third of assault cases against Federal officers.
Nearly 93% of Indian Country officers know their assailant.

Always Practice Due Diligence

Whether you're an individual or a tribe, when you enter into a business relationship, you need to know who you're dancing with! Check out the article in Indian Country Today about how Lamar Associates can help you with due diligence checks.

The Growing Problem of Cyber Bullying

Thanks to Allison Morris of Online College for developing this graphic on cyber-bullying. As access to technology increases, so do opportunities for abuse. Parents, teachers and other adults need to be aware of this trend and to check in with kids to find out whether they are getting bullied online. Click on the graphic below to view it in a new window.

Source: OnlineCollege.org

Ready for Wildfire Season?

While the fires in Colorado are getting all the attention, fires are burning communities throughout the Western US. The Ash Creek fire burning through the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and in Rosebud County has destroyed 19 homes and is threatening scores more. Our hearts go out to all the people in the country who have suffered from evacuations and the terrible destruction. As the people in New Mexico's pueblos, California's bands and Arizona's reservations have learned, recovering from wildfires can take years.

As emergency preparedness consultants, we can't stress enough that the time to prepare for a wildfire is before it starts. The least you should do to prepare for any natural disaster is to get a kit, make a plan and be informed of current conditions. To truly protect your home or business, read through the wildfire information at ready.gov.

Watch and Share Our New PSA

Our extraordinarily talented associates at Red Ant Films helped us make this powerful video for one of our online training courses. The reaction we have gotten is so powerful, we're releasing it as a public service announcement. We understand that alcohol is a contributor to untold criminal activity, violence and preventable accidents in Indian County and we pray for the end of this destruction.

Read more about our thoughts behind making this PSA at Indian Country Today Media Network.

Great News from the DEA

The Drug Enforcement Agency announced today that they would be regulating 26 synthetic drugs under the Controlled Substances Act under Schedule I including several synthetic cannabinoids and the "2 C family" of hallucinogens that have been in the news recently.

We applaud all such actions on the part of the government, as it will clear up many jurisdictional issues with Indian Country smoke shops. However, as I pointed out not too long ago for Indian Country Today, when you start with 450 known compounds, banning some is a good start, but doesn't address the whole problem. A more comprehensive approach is to change the culture in which sales of these harmful chemicals can thrive, even when they're labeled "not for human consumption."

Oglala Lakota Business Students Fight Youth Suicide

This Friday, if you're near Kyle, SD, visit the gym at the Piya Wiconi Oglala Lakota College campus from 4 pm - 7 pm. Students in the Introduction to Business class at the college are exhibiting pictures taken by elementary school and middle school students about "what hope looks like." The students distributed over 200 disposable cameras as part of this effort to combat the local epidemic of youth suicide, which is among the highest worldwide.

Assemble a Kit, Make a Plan, Stay Informed

The new series of PSAs from Ready.gov remind us that it doesn't take much to prepare for an emergency, so when disaster strikes, you can just react to keep yourself and your family safe rather than having to think about how to respond.

Recovering Funds Will Be Hard For Navajo Nation

As tribes have more money to invest, unscrupulous individuals are targeting them for scams. Take the case of the Navajo Nation, who invested in a Shiprock company whose Colorado-based owner stole millions and is now being prosecuted for federal tax evasion. As it turns out, the Navajo don't even have jurisdiction over this fraud.

If your tribe has money to invest, always complete due diligence research on your prospective partner before signing on the dotted line. Due diligence is more than a Google search; it's an in-depth study of whether the company or individual is honest, reliable and whether they are going to do the right thing with your money. Our researchers have decades of experience and will be happy to help.

Oglala Sioux Plan Native Veterans' Cemetery

The Pine Ridge Reservation will soon have a place close to home to bring fallen warriors and honor them in the traditional manner, thanks in part to a $6 million grant from the Department of Veteran's Affairs. For years, the Oglala Sioux have had to travel 100 miles away to the Black Hills Cemetery to honor their military heros. The new 63-acre site will include space for contemplation and finding solace in nature and the memorial area honors Lakota traditions by including a medicine wheel and placing the entrances and buildings on the east site.

Protecting All Women Under VAWA

Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has been protecting women who have been victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence.  The law is up for reauthorization now and the House Judiciary committee has stripped out the language that would strengthen the capacity of tribal law enforcement to prosecute crimes against women under their jurisdiction.

Native American women suffer abuse at far greater rates than other American women. Sadly, there are a significant number of Native women who are currently unprotected by the law. Battering, abuse and rape cases involving a Native woman and a non-Native man have generally gone unprosecuted because of the lack of tribal jurisdiction over the non-Native man, even if he lives on the reservation.

The reauthorization bill submitted by the Senate allows tribes to prosecute non-tribal members who hurt Native women, but the response from the House has been to strip out these protections. The White House has joined a chorus of calls for House leadership to pass new legislation that doesn't make law enforcement pick and choose which cases they can prosecute. Supporters hope that an amendment restoring protection for Native women can be introduced on the floor.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Officer Safety in Indian Country

On May 3, I joined Ted Quasula, Retired Director, and Darren Cruzan, current Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs  law enforcement to honor the many heros who have given their lives to protect Indian County. The memorial at the FLETC center in Roswell now has nearly 100 names.

Being a cop in Indian Country is hard and dangerous work and can affect a person's mental health and in turn their physical health. Join us online and onsite for a series of Officer Safety training events.

Start with a free webinar on Officer Safety and Wellness to learn the basics. Then sign up for our three-day Officer Survival and Wellness Training training at Santa Ana Pueblo. This three day course involves one day of classroom instruction and two full days on the live fire range and training simulator. Participants will return back to their departments with practical experience utilizing skills learned in various situational contexts.

Ending Bullying in Our Schools

The White House has endorsed the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) as an important step to prevent bullying in schools. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would prohibit discrimination in public schools against any student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.  And the Safe Schools Improvement Act would require school districts to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. The President, Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries and White House staff have also recorded videos on bullying prevention for the It Gets Better project.

Understanding and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

If you are a service professional working with children in Indian Country, take some time to attend this tuition free webinar with Nadja Jones of NICWA.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 28

Unused prescription drugs can be a danger to everyone in your home, but it can be difficult to dispose of drugs without harming the environment. The DEA is hosting another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day all across the nation on April 28. At the last event in November, the DEA collected nearly 200 tons of expired or unused drugs. If you're a law enforcement department interested in hosting an event, call the DEA point of contact for your area. The DEA has downloadable posters and other materials to help you host an event.


If you would like to turn in unneeded, unused or expired drugs, call 1-800-882-9539 to find the take-back site closest to you.

Be Prepared for Tornadoes

We hope our friends, colleagues and loved ones in the Plains stay safe as the nation anxiously watches tornadoes brewing in the region today. Much of Indian Country is prone to tornadoes and ready.gov has some great tips for preparing and for staying safe during and after a tornado hits. Lamar Associates is ready to help, whatever weather comes your way.

Preserve Tribal Heritage on May Day

When we train families to prepare for disasters, we advise them to consider how to preserve irreplacable mementos like family albums. However, when our tribal governments plan for disaster, the needs of libraries and museums are not always considered, even though many tribes' material heritage might be concentrated in those facilities.

This May 1st, all Indian Country librarians, archivists, historians, curators and museum administrators are encouraged to open up dialogue with your tribal councils about plans you can make and steps you can take to preserve your tribe's heirlooms. The National Institute for Conservation will be hosting a free webinar April 18 on how to start planning.

One of Lamar Associates' specialties is Emergency Preparedness. We can help your organization or tribe every step of the way from assessment to delivering training.

Standing up Against Bullying in Indian Country

These young women say it well: Native pride means to honor and respect one another. Bullying does not honor our people, our traditions or our culture.

Strength Based Tribal Collaboration for Drug Endangered Children

In case you didn't catch the webinar, you can still watch the recorded session. Steve and Nadja did a great job as always, looking at how Native people can build on their strengths to protect children and how service providers can improve the cultural appropriateness  of their assessments.

Protecting Children Against Abuse in Indian Country

How do we know when a child is the victim of physical or emotional abuse?
What are the signs and what do we do next?
What are the signs of a child living in an endangered environment?

If you are a parent or service provider with children in Indian County, join Indian Country Training's master instructor, Steven Juneau, for an engaging and informative webinar on how we can protect our children against abuse.

Register now while they still have spaces!

TLOA Still Getting Shorted

The White House budget proposal is a real mixed bag for Indian Country law enforcement with some really good news and some news that could be a lot better. I've put together an analysis of what we can expect if the proposed funding goes through as planned for Indian Country Today. Click here to read it, and don't forget to "like" it using the bear claw symbols at the bottom of the article.

Register for our Tribal Jurisdiction Webinar

Here's the announcement, with a link to the registration page, for the upcoming Tribal Jurisdiction webinar.

The Ever-Changing Jurisdictional Maze

A bill is making its way through the Washington state legislature right now that creates a procedure to for tribes to request jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters, including delinquency, truancy and adoption. On the flip side, the New Mexico Supreme Court just restricted tribes' sovereign immunity when it comes to casino liquor sales.

Anyone who has worked in Indian Country justice knows figuring out authority and responsibility in any given case can be a challenge. Often the laws were confusing to begin with and the jurisdictional landscape keeps changing through court and legislative actions. To help you get a grip on who has jurisdiction when, Indian Country Training instructor Joseph Rosen is offering a terrific webinar on April 5th on Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country under TLOA. Don't miss this participatory and interactive course- you won't even have to leave your desk to take it.

We Agree that Education is Key

We couldn't help but notice this rebuttal to the New York Times' piece on the Wind River Reservation. Eastern Shoshone member Larry McAdams discusses some of the real problems with crime on the Wind River Reservation and says,

I am not denying the fact that we have drug addiction, violence and alcoholism on this Reservation. What can be done to counteract these problems? I believe that education is the key to begin solving our problems, and that our leaders must set high standards by example. Our Tribal people, both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, have to do more to promote education. In this endeavor, we need strong leadership from our elected officials. Our Tribal leaders were elected to lead; we expect them to do what they were elected to do. Lead a “surge” to educate our people!

We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

The Value of Community Partnerships

If you haven't yet, check out Native journalist Jody Rave's website, Buffalo's Fire, which offers daily news, analysis and opinion and a whole host of resources on tribal community, culture and communications.

I've shared some thoughts about how community partnerships work to help turn around generations of learned helplessness. At Lamar Associates, we're always working for a better tomorrow!

Please take the time to check out Buffalo's Fire and "like" the article on Facebook.

Proposed 2013 Budget Increases Funds to Native Law Enforcement

The White House's proposed budget holds most Indian Affairs programs steady for FY 2013 but increases funding in a few key areas. The budget contains $11 million in targeted increases for BIA Law Enforcement for law enforcement operations, detention center operations and tribal courts. The request for law enforcement operations also builds on increases from previous years to support criminal investigations and police services that improve recruitment and hiring for law enforcement officers and detention center staff.

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk said,

"The budget request maintains President Obama’s commitment to strengthening tribal nations by making targeted increases in Indian Affairs programs that support tribal self-determination in managing BIA-funded programs, increase public safety in tribal communities by strengthening police capabilities, improve the administration of tribal land, mineral, timber and other trust resources and advance Indian education."

Read the full story at the Cherokee Phoenix.

Establishing a Strength Based Tribal Collaboration

When we're trying solve thorny problems, it helps to work from a position of strength. NICWA and Indian Country Training are partnering up to present a tuition-free webinar on establishing a strength based tribal collaboration that can effectively help identify the at-risk, drug endangered children in our tribes. Click here to view the announcement. Click here to register for the webinar.

Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe

Indian Country Today just published this insightful commentary by Steve Juneau, CEO of Indian Country Training. Not only does it offer some useful resources to prevent child abuse, domestic abuse and elder abuse but he shares some good news about the White Earth Police department, who have received funding to launch a "power of positive living" program for the tribe's children. We think this is a great step towards keeping kids on a path to avoid drugs and gangs.