Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative: Rebuilding Nations Brett Lee Shelton, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Native American Rights Fund 10th Americas RCE Regional Meeting 5-7 October, 2021

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Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative:
Rebuilding Nations
Native American Rights Fund
Brett Lee Shelton‐ Oglala Sioux Tribe
Senior Staff Attorney
Native American Rights Fund
5 Priorities
• Preserve Tribal Existence
• Protect Native Natural
Resources
• Protect Native Human
Rights
• Hold Governments
Accountable to Natives
• Develop Indian Law and
Educate the Public about
Indian rights, laws, and
issues.

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Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative (est. 1992)
• Priorities:
1. Models from other tribes
2. Training
3. Technical Assistance
4. Advocacy
https://peacemaking.narf.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEtwhvtDwWQ
• NATIVE JUSTICE
Peacemaking:
A traditional Native American
approach to problem solving that:
Focusses on healing and restoring
relationships between the parties in
disagreement, and others.

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A Matter of Worldview:
Euro-Anglo-American
 Rights
 Granted by the Sovereign
 Held against others
 Fight it out to be the “winner”
 Experts help fight, decide winner
(Lawyers, Judges)
 Economic/Hierarchical
Indigenous
 Relationship
 Respect
 Responsibility
 Reciprocity
 Address the problem as a group
 “Expert” helps facilitate conversation and
problem-solving
 Nurturing/Egalitarian
Why Does it Work?
• Sense of belonging
• Self Esteem/Dignity
• Better handling of Emotions
• Support from group, family
• Mutually derived/consented outcomes
• Focus on the problem, healing, not labelling the person as bad.
• Reflects who we are/aspire to be

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Sustainable Development Goals
• Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and
build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all
levels
• Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
• + Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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Where is Peacemaking Happening?
 Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, TX
 Chickasaw Nation, OK
 Chitimacha Tribe, LA
 Choctaw Nation, OK
 Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, WA
 Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower
Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, OR
 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, OR
 Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, OR
 Cook Inlet Tribal Council, AK
 Coquille Indian Tribe, OR
 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, NC
 Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians, MI
 Ho-Chunk Nation, WI
 Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, CA
 Isleta Pueblo, NM
 Kalispel Indian Community, MT
 Karuk Tribe, CA
 Kenaitze Indian Tribe, AK
 Klamath Tribes, OR
 Leech Lake Band of Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe, MN
 Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, MI
 Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians,
MI
 Lummi Tribe, WA
 Mahnomen County Court, MN
 Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe, MA
 Mashpee Wampanoag, MA
 Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, MN
Where is Peacemaking Happening? (Page 2)
 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, MS
 Navajo Nation, AZ NM UT
 Northern Arapaho Nation, WY
 Oglala Sioux Tribe, SD
 Oneida Nation, NY
 Oneida Tribe of Indians, WI
 Organized Village of Kake, AK
 Pechanga Tribe, CA
 Pit River Tribe, CA
 Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, MI
 Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, KS
 Red Hook Municipal Court, NY
 Santa Clara Pueblo, NM
 Seattle Municipal Court, WA
 St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, NY
 Skokomish Indian Tribe, WA
 Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, WA
 Spirit Lake Tribe, ND
 Stockbridge Munsee Community, WI
 Tanana Chiefs Conference, AK
 Tesuque Pueblo, NM
 Washtenaw County Court, MI
 White Earth Nation, MN
 Wilton Rancheria, CA
 Zia Pueblo, NM
 And many other communities that just
haven’t passed laws or reported on it.

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Thank You! ‐ Wopila
• peacemaking. narf.org
Brett Lee Shelton, Staff Attorney
Native American Rights Fund
720‐647‐9952
shelton@narf.org