How does historic trauma impact contemporary Native American communities and how can Tribal communities, the federal government, and community organizations work together to address and mitigate those impacts?
Van Ness Feldman and the Roundtable on Native American Trauma-Informed Initiatives* invite you to a webinar featuring Dr. Tami DeCoteau, a leader in identifying and implementing successful approaches to trauma-informed care and Van Ness Feldman Partner, Dan Press who together with Dr. DeCoteau has been a force for educating and advocating for trauma-informed approaches as an integral part of the solution for improving the lives of members of the Native community, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Van Ness Feldman’s Native Affairs practice Co-Chairs, Maranda Compton and Andrew VanderJack, will moderate a discussion of:
- How to define historic trauma and evaluate its impacts on Native Communities;
- The relationship between historic trauma and the CoVid-19 virus;
- Successful case-studies in the implementation of historic trauma-informed programs; and
- Potential federal funding opportunities through the CARES Act, as well as suggestions for future efforts by the federal government to support trauma-informed programs in Indian Country.
Our Panelists:
Dr. Tami DeCoteau received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in 2003 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with specialization in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders for adults, adolescents and children. Dr. DeCoteau has worked in a variety of outpatient settings and with a diverse patient population, including Veterans and Native Americans. She received the Indian Health Service 2009 Health Professional of the Year Award for outstanding service and the American Psychological Foundation 2010 Early Career Award for providing culturally competent practice techniques for Native Americans and for developing training programs in rural, underserved areas. Dr. DeCoteau also has been appointed to serve on the Commission on Native Children to help address challenges faced by Native children. Aside from her clinical work, Dr. DeCoteau has given numerous lectures on how trauma impacts attachment and brain development, in-school strategies for working with traumatized children, and historical trauma. She is a long-standing member of the American Psychological Association, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
For over 40 years, Dan Press has provided legal assistance and Washington, D.C. representation to Tribes, Indian organizations, and companies doing business with Tribes. Dan works to strengthen tribal government by working with Tribes to develop and implement ordinances that exercise the Tribe’s sovereign authority in such areas as employment rights and labor relations. Dan serves as pro bono general counsel for two national organizations that assist communities with efforts to apply the science on the causes and effects of historical and childhood trauma to address social and health problems in their communities. The Roundtable on Native American Trauma-Informed Initiatives assists Native communities with efforts to implement comprehensive trauma-informed initiatives while the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice works at the federal, state and community levels to encourage elected and agency officials to adopt policies that apply the science on trauma to programs that can address the effects of trauma, including suicide, substance abuse, and domestic violence. The Roundtable also educates local communities about the benefits of implementing comprehensive trauma-informed initiatives. In November 2018, Dan received the Public Advocacy award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies for “Outstanding and Fundamental Contributions to Advancing the Social Understanding of Trauma,” and is the author of A How-To Handbook on Creating Comprehensive, Integrated Trauma-Informed Initiatives in Native American Communities.
Maranda Compton serves as co-chair of the Native Affairs practice group at Van Ness Feldman where she counsels Tribal and non-Tribal clients on a wide range of issues related to economic development and social equity in Indian Country and is frequently called on to provide training and strategic advice on the financing, permitting, and development of large-scale energy and technology projects located on or impacting Tribal lands and resources.
Andrew VanderJack serves as co-chair of the Native Affairs practice group at Van Ness Feldman where he counsels both privately-owned and public entities, including state and local governments, Alaska Native corporations, non-profit organizations, and timber and mining companies on a variety of public land, energy, and natural resources issues.
*The Roundtable on Native American Trauma-Informed Initiatives was created in 2015 following a roundtable on historical trauma hosted by then-Senator Heidi Heitkamp, to assist tribal communities learn about and implement programs that address historical trauma. Dr. DeCoteau serves as president of the organization.
Comments (0)