Reclaiming the Child Welfare Narrative: Recent Episodes
Center for Tribes
Join Jackie Crow Shoe, enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, as she connects with child welfare experts across Indian Country to address the importance of building tribal child welfare programs that are reflective of their community values and culture – reclaiming the narrative from a dominant system to one that reflects Indigenous worldviews and emphasizes responsibilities to children.
Funded by the Children's Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for Tribes partners with tribal child welfare programs in their efforts to build capacity to effectively serve tribal children and families. These podcasts do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the funder.
Guest: Judge Rebekka StummeGuest Host: Sheldon Spotted Elk (Northern Cheyenne)This podcast episode features Judge Rebekka Stumme of the Carlton County Courthouse Sixth Judicial District of Minnesota and is facilitated by guest host Sheldon Spotted Elk, Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement at Casey Family Programs. Judge Stumme has served on the bench for five years and presides over two ICWA court dockets. In this episode, Judge Stumme explores her professional background in Indian Child Welfare courts, crediting her early experience to her mentor, the late Judge Sally Tarnowski. She shares the physical attributes of the courtroom over which she presides that serves Native families in juvenile, criminal, and drug treatment proceedings and how courtroom spaces can pay respect to Native cultures. Further, she recounts the first steps and early engagement with community partners that led to the eventual establishment of the ICWA court. This episode includes successes, as well as challenges, and lessons learned along the way and explores post-COVID changes to court proceedings. The Children's Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The contents of this podcast episode and the resources herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Children's Bureau.Full Transcript: http://tribalinformationexchange.org/files/products/centerfortribespodcasttranscriptjudgestumme.docx
Guest: Judge Kevin GrayThis podcast episode features Judge Kevin Gray (he/him). Throughout his career, Judge Gray worked in the non-profit sector, in construction, and on campaigns before joining the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office in 2011. Judge Gray worked there for 11 years before being elected District Judge in 2022.At the time of this podcast recording, Tulsa County operates the only Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Court in Oklahoma, a state with 38 federally recognized tribes. Under the leadership of the Honorable Kevin Gray, the Tulsa County ICWA Court has sought better outcomes through cultural connections and family preservation and serves as the model ICWA Court for other jurisdictions in Oklahoma and across the nation.The Children's Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The contents of this website and the resources herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Children's Bureau.Full transcript: https://bit.ly/3AedFhD
Guest: Sheldon Spotted Elk (Northern Cheyenne)This podcast episode features Sheldon Spotted Elk (he/him). Sheldon is Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement of Casey Family Programs. Sheldon is also a graduate of University of New Mexico School of Law. Sheldon Spotted Elk is an agent of change, improving legal outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system. He works regularly as a strategic partner with over twenty Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts. He and his two sons are Tsistsas (Northern Cheyenne).In this episode, Sheldon describes ICWA courts, their purpose, and how they impact tribal systems and families. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the five principles of ICWA Courts: judicial leadership; ICWA data collection; ICWA training (spirit and letter of law); tribal stakeholder collaboration; and gold standard lawyering and social work. The Children's Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The contents of this website and the resources herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Children's Bureau.Full transcript: https://bit.ly/4drvqIO
Find all the resources from today’s episode on our website, www.tribalinformationexchange.org, and in the show notes below.---Our guest in this episode is Arc Telos Saint Amour (they/them). Arc Telos, also known as Tay, is a neurodivergent, autistic, queer, and trans, gender non-conforming person of Mexican Indigenous descent (Coahuiltecan) whose work centers active listening, the power of holistic affirmation, and self-agency. Tay has spent over a decade in the non-profit field. Today, they serve as a national speaker, trainer, and educator and as the Executive Director of Youth MOVE National.In our conversation, Tay and host Jared Lank discuss the three-part webinar series Tay developed in collaboration with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The webinar series, Decolonizing the History of the Gender Binary in Service of Supporting Gender Diverse Youth, equips tribal child welfare professionals with practical, empathetic approaches to supporting gender-diverse indigenous families and youth. The conversation focuses on how these tools empower us as individuals, providing us with agency to be able to move forward in this work holistically and meaningfully.The conversation is split across two episodes. After listening to Part 1, you can find Part 2 here: https://bit.ly/3HuiDHnWe at the Capacity Building Center for Tribes hope you enjoy this conversation with Tay and encourage you to watch the recorded three-part webinar series if you haven't already.---Tribal Information Exchange: www.tribalinformationexchange.orgDecolonizing the History of the Gender Binary in Service of Supporting Gender Diverse Youth Webinar Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR4JDLysJ7WM5z8knD4g9-BMFNVBuKngnArc Telos Consulting: www.arctelosconsulting.com---The Children's Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The contents of this podcast and the resources herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Children's Bureau.
Find all the resources from today’s episode on our website, www.tribalinformationexchange.org, and in the show notes below.---Our guest in this episode is Arc Telos Saint Amour (they/them). Arc Telos, also known as Tay, is a neurodivergent, autistic, queer, and trans, gender non-conforming person of Mexican Indigenous descent (Coahuiltecan) whose work centers active listening, the power of holistic affirmation, and self-agency. Tay has spent over a decade in the non-profit field. Today, they serve as a national speaker, trainer, and educator and as the Executive Director of Youth MOVE National.In our conversation, Tay and host Jared Lank discuss the three-part webinar series Tay developed in collaboration with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The webinar series, Decolonizing the History of the Gender Binary in Service of Supporting Gender Diverse Youth, equips tribal child welfare professionals with practical, empathetic approaches to supporting gender-diverse indigenous families and youth. The conversation focuses on how these tools empower us as individuals, providing us with agency to be able to move forward in this work holistically and meaningfully.The conversation is split across two episodes. If you haven't already listened, please listen to Part 1 first: https://bit.ly/3O7W5QNWe at the Capacity Building Center for Tribes hope you enjoy this conversation with Tay and encourage you to watch the recorded three-part webinar series if you haven't already.---Tribal Information Exchange: www.tribalinformationexchange.orgDecolonizing the History of the Gender Binary in Service of Supporting Gender Diverse Youth Webinar Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR4J…8knD4g9-BMFNVBuKngnArc Telos Consulting: www.arctelosconsulting.com---The Children's Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. The contents of this podcast and the resources herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Children's Bureau.
Still curious about each episode? Listen to our trailer for Season 1 - Reclaiming the Child Welfare Narrative with clips from: 1 - Jackie Crow Shoe (enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) 2 - Lauren van Schilfgaarde (Cochiti Pueblo), UCLA Law 3 - Brett Lee Shelton (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Native American Rights Fund 4 - James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) 5 - Ethleen Iron Cloud-Two Dogs (Oglala Sioux Tribe) 6 - Chief Judge Abby Abinanti (Yurok Tribe) 7 - Brett Lee Shelton (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Native American Rights Fund Singing credit: Jackie Crow Shoe
Guest: Brett Lee Shelton (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Native American Rights Fund
This episode explores restoring sustainable peacemaking practices. Learn from Brett Lee Shelton about how this community-based cultural practice is evolving across Indian Country to resolve conflicts and improve outcomes for children in a healthy way.
Guest: Chief Judge Abby Abinanti (Yurok Tribe)
This episode takes us to Northern California with the Yurok Tribe to learn how they established a justice system reflective of their culture. A visionary in Indian Country, “Judge Abby” Abinanti talks about changing the child welfare profession and courts to serve as part of the community’s extended family, joining the Yurok Tribe on a path to wellness.
Guest: Ethleen Iron Cloud-Two Dogs (Oglala Sioux Tribe)
Learn from respected Elder, Ethleen Iron Cloud-Two Dogs, as she shares her insight on shifting not only the child welfare mindset, but that of the whole community, to see the care and development of children as a sacred and shared responsibility.
Guest: James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa)
Exploring traditional languages can help create solutions rooted in Indigenous perspectives and wisdom. A leading voice on the interconnectedness of language and culture, James Vukelich shares examples from traditional languages that demonstrate how these deep meanings can empower communities to shape their vision for child welfare based on their values.
Guests: Lauren van Schilfgaarde (Cochiti Pueblo), UCLA Law, and Brett Lee Shelton (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Native American Rights Fund
Learn how the removal of Native children was a means of colonization and forced assimilation and how the current child welfare structure was developed as a response. Lauren van Shilfgaarde and Brett Lee Shelton discuss how tribal child welfare programs can reclaim their systems to reflect their Indigenous worldviews and their responsibilities to children.