Sovereign Nations Cultural Preservation Center announces the implimenting of a Volunteer program focused on our youth. The Guardian ad Litem volunteers are an important resource in the community. Qualifying enrolled members of any fed recognized Indian band are recruited, screened, trained, and appointed by Judges to the districts where an enrolled juvenile requires a Guardian ad Litem. <> Hi, my name is Kim White Bear Woman, Nahgahnub I am an active Guardian ad Litem. I am also a District one Representitive at large for the Minn Guardian ad Litem Association. I am the Executive Director of Sovereign Nations Cultural Preservation Center or, SNCPC a local and native run nonprofit org. I am currently developing The Minn Tribal Guardian ad Litem association. I am a lifelong resident of Minnesota and proud member of the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. <> SNCPC is committed to providing a trained pool of Native American Guardian ad Litems, available to be appointed to Juvenile members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and any other Federally recognized Juvenile Band members involved in District or Tribal Court proceedings on a case by case basis. By providing the trained native Guardian to that district we will be actively participating in preserving our cultre and doing a little bit more to see our native children don't get lost in the system designed to protect them. In fact, the epidemic numbers of Minnesota Chippewa children involved in the judicial system has spurred a demand for guardian ad litem's as a whole, so it makes sense to provide enrolled juveniles with enrolled guardians, drawn from the local native communities. A guardian ad litem is a voice for the child, a qualified trained advocate, focused on the 'best interest' of the child/ren and given from a laypersons perspective. Expected to be more indepth and detailed, the guardians report is often a critical element in deciding the placement of the child, the duration of the placement and the continuation of the childs status and condition reported to the court, observing time limits while the child remains in the system. <> The goal of SNCPCinc. and the MTGAL program is to provide an adequate number of Qualified Trained Native Guardian ad Litems so that every Native child that is either an victim of abuse or neglect that is currently involved in a court action, recieves a native guardian ad litem. The basic relationship between the guardian ad litem and the child is developed based on a level of human trust. Providing a culture specific guardian ad litem bridges the initial gap, knowing that their appointed guardian shares their heritage, they are more likely to respond with a comfortable positive attitude. I feel that one of the most important things that can emerge from a case is that the child remains connected to their heritage, and their commmunity. The foundation for healthy human develpment depends on those important factors. <> Sovereign Nations Cultural Preservation Center; also known as SNCPCinc. is rising to the challenge, and in doing so, would like to challenge you to volunteer your time making a difference in a childs life. SNCPCinc is providing the recruitment materials, the certified training and most importantly, providing the list of guardians for the Judges that are mandated to appoint them. We are taking an active role in bringing our native children out of crisis. We will succeed in advocating for the "Best Interest" of the children while maintaining the contact and connection that is crutial to the sense of belonging and security for a child in crisis. <> The Guardian ad Litem role is a mandated appointment in all Child in need of Protective Services cases. The guardian may also be appointed to a variety of other cases, wherever there is an unanswered question of what action is in the best interest of the child. Of all the Guardian ad litem association members available for appointment in Minnesota right now, there are sixteen enrolled Guardians, while there are over five thousand enrolled juveniles in the Minnesota Judicial system. <> There is a definate need for Tribal Guardian ad Litems functioning in both Tribal and District courtrooms of the Ten Judicial Districts in the State of Minnesota. <> I plan to have completed the first round of training for the Tribal Guardian ad litems in 2004. There is a lot of work to be done between then and now. Please give your support, either written or by donation, to help advocate for our juvenile population, it will make a world of difference in somebody's life, yours and a childs. <> If you have any questions, or would like to send a letter of support, or make a tax deductable donation please feel free to call the office during business hours 8 am - 5 pm mon- sun at 218-591-3986, or send your donation to: SNCPC Tribal Guardian ad Litem Project c/o Kim White Bear Woman Nahgahnub P.O. Box 165 Sawyer MN. 55780 AHO! MII-GWITCH ( thats all, thank you) The rewards are the success stories, . Respectfully, Kim White Bear Woman Nahgahnub Executive Dir. SNCPCinc. Minn Tribal Guardian ad Litem project coordinator. July 6th 2003 <>