Northern Michigan University's Serving Native Survivors Circle project will hold professional development training titled "Privileging American Indian Ways of Knowing in Victim Services.” The free training is designed for tribal victim services employees, with an opportunity for CEUs available. Non-tribal victim services employees, along with students in Native American studies and social work, are also welcome to attend.
Invited guest presenters include Michael Yellow Bird (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara), professor and director of the Tribal Indigenous Studies program at North Dakota State University. His work focuses on decolonizing social work approaches, along with indigenous peoples' health and cultural rights. Former Minnesota state representative Susan Allen (Rosebud Sioux and Anishinaabe) will address policy and challenges with victim services.
The sessions will take place from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, May 9, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 10, in Whitman Hall 136. The registration deadline is Friday, May 3. To register, call 227-2103 or email conteduc@nmu.edu. For more information regarding the training, contact the NMU Social Work Department at 227-2706 or email Abigail Wyche at awyche@nmu.edu.
The Native Circle project seeks to increase internship opportunities and other incentives for NMU students wanting to work in the field of social work and with tribal communities.