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In California, the Yurok Tribe’s justice system is providing a path for healing.
Yurok Tribal Chief Judge Abby Abinanti is well-known for her work in the legal field. She’s the first Native American woman to be a member of the California State Bar.
Judge Abby, as she’s commonly referred to, recently joined tribal leaders, advocates, law enforcement, and others in Sacramento for a day devoted to justice issues.
Her work with the Yurok Tribe, located hundreds of miles away from the state’s capital city, centers on wellness.
“Essentially what we’re trying to do at home is to build a court system that would have been sort of the natural evolution of our value system. That means that our practices are much different than what you learn in the state court. So, my job there is to help people return to their responsible roles in community.”
Judge Abby says they do more intensive work with each person that comes before the court and they ask them to think as the wellness court as their extended family with special expertise.
She says it’s very different than state court with traditional values being a vital part of helping people.
“We look at culture as a way of living, this is how you live, this is what your value system is as a human being. And these are your responsibilities. And once you get people back into that walking on that road, they just act differently, you know, and we’ve had a lot, the invasion brought us a lot of problems, and we have to face those, and we have to push them back.”
Judge Abby says based on their value system, the wellness court has advocates who serve as mentors and friends that take on the role of cultural aunts and uncles.
“And they walk with people, they help them, they talk to them, they’re there for them. And they become part of their extended family. ‘You need to test. You didn’t test. And if you’re dirty just tell me and we’ll figure out what we’re going to do about it.’ You know, so we get people, we encourage people, and we help them find their way back.”
Judge Abby says they also focus on other wellness – behavioral health, housing, and requirements people need to get them back to where they need to be in society.
Tribal officials says it’s essential for justice to include traditional knowledge, culture and spirituality.
Phillip Williams.
Phillip Williams, a Yurok Tribal Council Member, says Native people get lost in today’s society.
“Colonialism has stripped away most of everything that we are. And so that’s why a lot of our people are in addiction and alcoholism, because they don’t know who they are, where do they fit in this world. And so, part of that, that keeps us going in that is our traditions, our dances, our ceremonies. One of the most basic parts, I think that people miss is your prayer. You know, the elders teach you to pray every day. So, you wake up, you wash your face, you pray, and then you start your day. And a lot of the people don’t, don’t get that. And so, we’re trying to replicate that, give a person, you know, something to live for in life.”
The Yurok Tribe and Judge Abby’s work are not just on the reservation.
They’re helping other tribes and the urban Native population through their close connection with the social service organization in San Francisco – the Friendship House.
The Friendship House work will be featured in part two of this special series, a collaboration with First Nations Experience Television with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
Watch our collaboration with FNX TV story here:
Mary C. Winder Community Center. (Courtesy Oneida Nation)
This weekend, the Oneida Indian Nation in New York is welcoming the Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s box lacrosse team to its new community center and field house for two practices.
The team will also offer girls box lacrosse camp for Oneida Nation community members for ages 15 and under and another for 20 and under.
A grand opening ceremony was recently held for the community center.
According to the tribe, the 90,000 sq. ft. center offers a number of resources to support cultural engagement and community building.
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