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.