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.

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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.