The Path to Healing to Wellness Conference

The White House Council on Native American Affairs, the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services Tribal Justice Support, the Administration for Native Americans at the Department of Health and Human services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture welcome your participation in the Path to Healing Wellness Conference.

Restoring the Path of Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts is an effort to address community safety through healing and wellness options rather than incarceration. This conference offers a unique opportunity to observe actual court proceedings, engage with court staff, and hear from program participants who have successfully navigated their path toward recovery.

Dates: 27- 29 September Format: In-person and Virtual attendance options Physical location: Bar Harbor, Maine Register: here

Topics will include: •    The Workings of Multi-Disciplinary Teams •    Mock Team Meeting Session  •    Mock Court Session •    Tribal Success Stories •    Funding Sources and Collaboration

Hosted by Penobscot and Passamaquody in collaboration with the five Tribes of Maine, funded by Tribal Justice Support.

Who We Serve

The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) Committee on Public Safety and Justice Committee will strive to ensure the safety and security Tribal communities throughout Indian Country and seek justice for all Native victims of crime.  

New Initiatives

Executive Order

Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People
FBI Memorandum of Understanding

Committee Members

About the WHCNAA Committee on Public Safety and Justice

The unique political framework for Tribal Nations in the U.S. legal system can present particular public safety concerns for Tribal communities that require a wide-reaching and integrated approach centering on education and outreach to local non-Tribal police departments, personal and community wellness, and increased access to justice services for Native peoples.  

Co-led by the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the White House – Domestic Policy Council, the Committee will develop a comprehensive approach to solving public safety and justice issues that will focus on:  

  • Implementing the Not Invisible Act (P.L. 116-166) and Savanna’s Act (P.L. 116-165) to account for missing and murdered Indigenous people  

  • Ensuring the efficient coordination of federal resources and developing an inter-agency approach in light of the McGirt decision (Supreme Court Document)  

  • Increasing behavioral and mental health resources for rehabilitation and as an alternative to incarceration   

  • Overcoming the challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified and well-trained Tribal public safety officials  

  • Ensuring input from Tribal representatives inform the identification and treatment of issues such as violence against women and girls in Tribal communities, curbing recidivism, and strengthening tribal policing capacity