November is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
Jeffrey L. Sedgwick, November 2008
November is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month; and Friday, November 28, has been designated Native American Heritage Day.
I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that our relationship with federally recognized Indian tribes is government-to-government and to talk about how the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has been working with Tribal leaders on a few key issues.
In Fiscal Year 2008, the Department of Justice awarded nearly $100 million in grant funds and assistance to Tribal communities for law enforcement and justice system improvements. These awards include funds for Tribal courts assistance, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, juvenile and mental health programs, and victim assistance and other programs.
Throughout the past two years, we have been meeting regularly with Tribal leaders in consultations focused on Tribal justice and safety priorities. These consultations were held in conjunction with training and technical assistance sessions that focused on providing immediate and structured responses to Tribal consultation issues and recommendations.
