The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, within the U.S. Department of Justice is pleased to announce the 12th National Indian Nations Conference: Justice for Victims of Crime. The Conference will be held December 9 − 11, 2010, in Palm Springs California, with the theme, "Walking in Harmony: Honoring Victim Voices to Achieve Safety, Justice & Healing." This year's conference is coordinated again by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute under a grant from OVC.

 

The purpose of the 12th 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.

 

This year's conference goals are:

 

1. Honoring and Listening to Victim/Survivor Voices: Putting Victims First; Creating victim-centered/sensitive responses; Being inclusive of victim/survivors to achieve safety, justice and healing; and Promoting peer to peer learning opportunities.
2. Promoting Safety, Justice and Healing: Highlighting the Resiliency of the Healing Success of our Communities.
3. Promoting Traditional Values and Incorporating Traditional Skills in Crime Victim Services: Upholding wellness, mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally; Framing victim services around tribal traditions.
4. Supporting and Educating Tribal Leaders: Educating and supporting efforts of tribal leaders to achieve accountability and responsibility to victims of crime.
5. Honoring the Wisdom of the Past: Understanding historical trauma as a way to heal; and Enlisting tribal elders as keepers of our tribal histories; and Embracing Traditional Teachings of "Taking Care of Others."
6. Working in Harmony: Developing community partnerships to strengthen services, such as partnering with technology experts, and Networking with Native men to address domestic violence and sexual assault.
7. Sustaining our Legacy: Developing skills and incorporating cultural approaches to enhance sustainability and measurability.
8. Healing the Healers: Ensuring safety and support for service providers.

 

Office for Victims of Crime

The Office for Victims of Crime was established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) to serve as the federal government's chief advocate for America's crime victims. OVC administers many formula and discretionary grants for programs designed to benefit crime victims, provides training for diverse professionals who work with crime victims, and develops projects to enhance victim's rights and services. OVC is committed to enhancing the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC works with national, international, state, military, and tribal victim assistance and criminal justice agencies, as well as other professional organizations, to promote fundamental rights and comprehensive services for crime victims.

 

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

 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute

The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (the Institute) is an Indian owned and operated non-profit corporation organized to design and deliver education, research, training, and technical assistance programs which promote the improvement of justice in Indian country and the health, well-being, and culture of Native peoples. The Institute focuses upon collaborative programs that provide critical resources for tribal court systems, victims assistance programs, and others involved in promoting the improvement of justice in Indian country. The Institute seeks to facilitate the sharing of resources so that Indian Nations and tribal justice systems have access to resources that they can adapt to meet the individual needs of their communities.