Washington: Native American tribal leaders and social activists in the United States have appealed to Congress to increase the deployment of police officers and strengthen prevention programs. They warned that the lack of law enforcement and gaps in social services are putting Native American children and families at risk.
During a hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, witnesses expressed support for the proposed Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act. This bill aims to expand justice and safety programs for Native American youth, make prevention funding more flexible, and permanently authorise key victim-related services.
Committee Chairperson Lisa Murkowski said lawmakers are reviewing Title 2 of the draft bill, which focuses on justice and safety for Native children, youth, and families. She highlighted that persistent public safety shortcomings remain in Indian Country, especially in law enforcement and coordinated services.
Murkowski stated, “Without access to coordinated community-based services, families are more likely to become deeply involved in the justice system.” She added that the draft bill seeks to enhance coordination, increase flexibility and funding, and invest in prevention efforts related to juvenile justice, domestic violence, and missing children cases.
A key feature of the bill is ‘Tiwahé’, a coordinated service model that allows tribes to design locally tailored programs. Murkowski noted that the law will codify Tiwahé and expand it nationwide. The bill will also establish a tribal advisory committee on juvenile justice, support in-depth research on missing Native children, and provide permanent funding for tribal domestic violence coalitions, resource centers, and a Native domestic violence hotline.
Lona Jackson-Street, Chairperson of the Spirit Lake Tribal Council, shared that her North Dakota tribe faces severe public safety challenges. “Our homicide rate is four times higher than that of non-Hispanic whites. This year alone, five homicides have occurred on the reservation,” she said.
Jackson-Street explained that Spirit Lake’s Tiwahé program uses a community-based approach to support youth and families before and after contact with the justice system. She also highlighted ongoing cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people, stressing the critical need for rapid coordination. She called for a significant increase in law enforcement funding due to resource shortages faced by tribes.
Jon Johnson, a member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council, said Tiwahé has transformed services in their remote Montana reservation located just 35 miles from the Canadian border.
Lori Jump, Executive Director of StrongHearts Native Helpline, told senators that while violence rates in Native communities are among the highest, access to services remains the lowest. She noted that of the 575 federally recognized tribes, less than half receive funding for domestic violence programs.
Anita Feinde, former member of the Native Children’s Commission, mentioned barriers to federal child welfare funding for tribes. She pointed out that complex reporting requirements, known as ‘4-E’, limit access to funds, and very few tribes can fully utilise them. Feinde urged Congress to allow tribes to access these funds through consolidated ‘477’ agreements to reduce administrative burdens.
The Native Children’s Commission, established by Congress, has documented disparities faced by Native children and made recommendations related to juvenile justice, child welfare, and public safety.
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