Tribal Issues
The NCJFCJ recognizes that tribal courts face unique challenges when dealing with issues such as the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), as well as juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and domestic violence. In addition to regularly focusing on Native American issues at our trainings and conferences, NCJFCJ has an active committee of judges and other professionals working on tribal court and ICWA issues. Please contact us for more information on committee activities.

NCJFCJ Resolutions
1/31/11 -- The NCJFCJ is pleased to announce the passage of a resolution in support of tribal courts and a resolution in support of new funding to establish a tribal Court Improvement Project.  As equal and parallel systems of justice, it is imperative that tribal courts receive equitable court improvement support to serve the children and families in their jurisdictions. Read more.

Publications
The Michigan State Court Administrative Office, ICWA Special Committee, has published a valuable resource, Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978: A Court Resource Guide (March 2011).

Recent NCJFCJ publications concerning tribal issues include:

• Court Reform and American Indian and Alaskan Native Children:
  Increasing Protections and Improving Outcomes (2009)
• Indian Child Welfare Act Checklists for Juvenile and Family Court Judges (2003)
• Native American Resource Directory for Juvenile and Family Court Judges (2003)

Also available for download is the recently updated "Revised Active Efforts Principles and Expectations Publication."

Click here for more information on ordering these publications.

The Spring 2008 of NCJFCJ's Juvenile and Family Justice TODAY included an article by Judge Korey Wahwassuck, "The New Face of Justice: Joint Tribal-State Jurisdiction." Please click here to view.

The Fall 2002 issue of NCJFCJ's Juvenile and Family Court Journal included an article entitled "In the Best Interests of an Indian Child: The Indian Child Welfare Act" by Donna Goldsmith. Please click here to view that article.

For more NCJFCJ publications on tribal issues, please click here.

More information is available on tribal issues through the following websites:
American Bar Association Tribal Courts Council
National CASA Association
National Indian Child Welfare Association
National Tribal Justice Resource Center