Drawing Inspiration and Motivation from Tribal Connections

Within Region 5, the tribal presence is most pronounced in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Michigan has 12 federally recognized tribes, and Wisconsin and Minnesota each have 11.  Also, in April the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation added lands in the state of Illinois, so for the first time in 175 years, Indian Country has returned to the Prairie State. Discussions with the JOL’s from these states confirmed the challenges of connecting with the tribes in meaningful ways, but also a determination to learn more about this important sector and continue to look for ways to make inroads.

The three main states also differ in their Public Law 280 status. This Act of Congress is an unfunded mandate, extending state police power over a number of Indian tribes. In NHTSA Region 5 Minnesota and Wisconsin (with the exception of one tribe) are PL 280 states and Michigan is a Non-PL 280 State.   Judge Todd Meurer, the Wisconsin JOL, has recently audited an “Introduction to American Indian Studies” class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He noted his interest in the class and studied the Ojibwa history in the Lake Superior region encompassing what is now the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Judge Kerry Meyer, the Minnesota JOL is currently working towards a goal of trying to get a judge from each of the 11 Minnesota tribal courts to attend the Lifesavers Conference in 2025. 

Recently, I was able to meet with Judge JoAnne Cook, the Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa and sit in on her Healing to Wellness Court proceedings.  The tribal culture is a prominent part of how this Court operates and the Judge’s wisdom and demeanor was very educational and an inspiration. There was such compassion and sincere concern for the participants expressed by the Judge and her team. A very interesting component of the healing to wellness Court proceedings was the involvement of Cultural Resource Advisors. Also, the Judge and the participants spoke in their native language to begin the session, and the team and the participants sat in a circle during both staffing and in the Court session. The Judge definitely used motivational interviewing and the “7 Grandfather Teachings” seemed to be woven into her individual time spent with each participant. These teachings include Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe’s 5th Annual Opioid Summit was also a good opportunity to revisit many of the teachings of the treatment court world and learn more about the impact of the opioid crisis and substance use disorders on the Tribal community.  This very impressive two-day conference hosted 300 attendees and national speakers who present at All Rise along with others. This conference also incorporated Tribal culture into the agenda which added so much more meaning to the program. The photos of the Tribal members who had died from opioid overdoses were positioned to oversee the main conference room and really drove home the importance of the conversations that occurred during this conference. During her Keynote address, Tricia Tingle, Associate Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized the American Bar Association and our focus on traffic safety and the Bureau’s interest in developing partnerships.

“Miigwech” (Thank You) to those within the tribal communities with whom we have spoken to and to those who have embraced this outreach and that of the JOL’s in Region 5. Together we have confirmed that there are many lessons to be learned about the tribes and their approach to addressing impaired driving and substance use disorders within the tribal court system. The efforts to build bridges and look for ways to work together in collaboration are underway and will result in the development of closer ties which will continue to strengthen as these relationships develop.