The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, within the U.S. Department of Justice is pleased to announce the 11^th National Indian Nations Conference: Justice for Victims of Crime. The Conference will be held December 11 — 13, 2008, in Palm Springs California, with the theme, “Strengthening the Heartbeat of all our Relations.” This year’s conference is coordinated again by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute under a grant from OVC.

The purpose of the 11^th National Indian Nations Conference — the largest U.S. Department of Justice sponsored Indian Nations conference — is to bring together Native American victims, victim advocates, tribal leaders, victim service providers, community volunteers, prosecutors, judicial and law enforcement personnel, family violence and sexual assault specialists, medical providers, social services and mental health personnel, probation/corrections, criminal justice and juvenile justice personnel, as well as federal and state agency representatives to share their knowledge, experiences and ideas for developing programs that serve the unique needs of crime victims in Indian Country.

OVC is committed to:

• Putting victims first
• Enacting and enforcing consistent, fundamental rights for crime victims
• Providing crime victims with access to comprehensive, quality services
• Integrating crime victims' issues into all levels of the Nation's educational system
• Supporting, improving, and replicating promising practices in victims' rights and services
• Ensuring that the voices of crime victims play a central role in the Nation's response to violence

Conference Goals

• Putting Victims First
  Honoring Victim/Survivors and their Helpers
• Promoting Traditional Values
  Upholding Wellness in All Areas: Mentally, Physically, Spiritually and Emotionally
• Supporting and Educating Tribal Leaders
  Educating and Supporting Efforts of Tribal Leaders to Address Crime
• Honoring the Wisdom of Past
  Understanding Historical Trauma as a Way to Heal
• Promoting Safety, Justice and Healing
  Highlighting Resiliency of the Healing Success of our Communities
• Developing Community Partnerships
  Encouraging Respectful Collaboration and Cooperation
• Strengthening Skills
  Embracing Traditional Teachings of Taking Care of Others
• Sustaining our Legacy
  Developing Skills to Enhance Sustainability and Measurability
• Strengthening the Heartbeat of All Our Relations
  Enlisting Elders and Youth to Create a Vision of Hope for the Future