American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

In early FY 2019, local American Indian reservation communities requested CRS conflict resolution services to address community concerns over allegations of disparate treatment and limited law enforcement response to community concerns. The community claimed that law enforcement officers ignored their concerns that American Indian youth and women were being targeted for human trafficking. They also reported that local law enforcement failed to respond to emergency calls made by tribal members, including calls for assistance at reservation schools.

As a result, in October 2018, CRS began working with community leadership from the local American Indian reservation communities and the American Indian’s women’s advocacy organization in response to these concerns, resulting in the formation of a working group to finalize plans for a community forum.

In November 2018, CRS facilitated a forum held by local tribal leadership that included remarks from tribal officials and a presentation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana (USAO-MT) on human trafficking and access to services. The 68 attending community members learned examples of how they could effectively partner with law enforcement in preventing various types of criminal activity, including trafficking, from occurring in their community. CRS assisted forum participants in developing a “Community Safety Response Contingency Plan” intended to further heighten awareness, facilitate service referral, and support a law enforcement response.

In December 2016, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for occupants at a Native American Camp in Fort Yates, North Dakota. The evacuation impacted a Native American tribe and other groups protesting the development of the Dakota Access Pipeline which was planned to run through the camp. Protesters from the tribe and other groups vowed to stay at the camp, despite the mandatory evacuation, alleging the development would take place on sacred land. This standoff heightened tension in the region and created a threat to public safety and the welfare of families and children due to the harsh North Dakota winter.

Amid these tensions, CRS met with representatives from federal, state, and local government; social service groups; and the Native American tribe to facilitate dialogue. CRS mediated discussions among the various stakeholders to reduce fears and misconceptions regarding the evacuation, disseminate information on transportation and relocation services, coordinate health and safety measures, and support education and child welfare services. In February 2017, the state issued another order for the protesters to evacuate the camp due to the dangers of impending spring floods in the area. With support from CRS and other stakeholders, most protesters left the camp peacefully by the deadline and without incident.