One year ago, April 2017, I wrote a blog on this website titled Silent Epidemic. I used the word Silent to denote there is currently no way for law enforcement to specify and catalog the numbers of missing and/or murdered Native American women. I used the word Epidemic to denote this is a clear and […]
When it comes to being a Child Advocate so much has changed over the past fifty years. Today we are daily addressing problems of child abuse, both physical and emotional. Child sex trafficking has become more and more prevalent, even within tribal communities. It is up to all of us in law enforcement and community […]
Throughout the year, virtually all Native American cultures celebrate special occasions. Sacred songs and dances are done year round to honor their people or their particular historical traditions. Events such as public feasting ceremonies are of great importance and based on social traditions that help unite tribal members. Other special occasions include the annual celebration […]
On October 20th, 2017 attorneys, investigators, family and community members will gather in a courtroom in Albuquerque, New Mexico to hear the judge sentence a man to prison for the abduction and murder of an 11 year old Native American girl. That case, more than any other in recent memory drew attention to the fact […]
We all are aware of natural disasters. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, etc. Things that are referred to as Acts of God that happen to us unexpectedly or maybe with some advance notice. We as a people today have early warning broadcasts or sirens that alert us to upcoming natural disaster events. Back in the […]
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with tribes across this nation. Traveling from tribe to tribe and speaking with community members, tribal leaders and others, I am often asked what I see as the greatest threats that expose Native children to the risks of abduction and victimization. I always tell people that […]
This past May 25th I was honored to attend National Missing Children’s Day ceremony in Washington D.C. I was also honored by hosting a victim family from Indian Country. Their personal loss has given purpose and meaning to what you and I strive to do every day – keep our children safe. I have attended many […]
Hastings Shade was a very good friend of mine. He was a full blood Cherokee who spoke English as a second language. He taught his native language and was a very interesting and insightful man. One day as we were speaking Cherokee to each other I asked him a question about a word in our […]
How did you spend your weekends as a kid? The norm for our family was to go to the Cherokee Stomp dance on Saturday night, then the next morning we would go to Sunday school at church. My mother was Cherokee; however, my father was not, and he was a Baptist preacher. I lived in […]
Image: “Still Dancing” by Jonathan Labillois, a member of the Ljonpaintistuguj Migmaq First Nation Band in Gaspe Quebec O Si Yo, (Oh See Yo) ‘Hello’ in my mother’s language of Cherokee and welcome to this month’s blog.What if I told you there was an epidemic in Indian County? Would you believe me? Probably not unless I […]