Rural Native Youth: A Panel Discussion on Comparative Resources and Collaborations to Improve Outcomes

Jeanne Torske is the Big Horn County Attorney in Big Horn County, Montana. Ms. Jeanne Torske began her legal career by arguing with her family and every single one of her teachers.  The “precocious” youth grew up, taught for a few years, and then became an attorney.  Ms. Torske’s legal career began as a law clerk.  Then she received a Gaye L. Tenoso Indian Country Fellowship and served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Montana near her home on the Crow Indian Reservation.  As Ms. Torske’s Fellowship ended, she was faced with the decision to remain with the Department of Justice and move to another district or remain near her family ranch.  She chose to stay home and became a Deputy Crow Tribal Prosecutor, while continuing to prosecute in the federal system as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA).  Now, Ms. Torske serves her home community as: (1) the Big Horn County Attorney; (2) a SAUSA; and (3) an occasional Special Deputy Crow Tribal Prosecutor.

Nikki Baker Limore is a Senior Assistant Attorney General with (and a citizen of) Cherokee Nation (CN) headquartered in Tahlequah, OK.  She currently is employed as the tribal prosecutor who handles juvenile delinquent and deprived cases for the 14 counties of their reservation. Her primary focus, in her 20+ year legal career, has been children. Previous/concurrent roles include:  CN Health General Counsel, a 10 year stint as a State of Oklahoma prosecutor, and for 7 years served as the CN Executive Director of Indian Child Welfare while co-founding the CN ONE FIRE Victim Services Department and adjunct professor at a local university (NSU). Career highlights include being awarded the Kidspace Champion for Children award while a prosecutor in Muskogee County and adding child centered services for deprived children when removed from the home to include art, equine, and cultural therapy. She is a national guest speaker, a child forensic interviewer, has served on several multi-disciplinary child abuse task force teams and varies other community boards. She is married to her husband, Nathan, has four children, is a former foster and adoptive home/parent, loves to golf, quilt, and spend time traveling with family. Education: Bach of Science, Magna Cum Laude, Northeastern State University, 1999; Juris Doctorate, University of Arkansas, 2002.

Patricia (Pat) Sekaquaptewa (Hopi), Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts Training and Technical Assistance Manager, Tribal Youth Resource Center. Pat received her B.A. from Stanford University, 1990; and her J.D. from University of California at Berkeley, School of Law, 1995. Most recently, Pat Sekaquaptewa consulted with RurAL CAP’s Alaska Tribal Justice Resource Center (ATJRC) in Anchorage, AK as part of its training and technical assistance services to CTAS Purpose Areas 3, 8, & 9 tribes in their tribal court and Tribal Healing to Wellness Court planning, implementation, and enhancement. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Professor with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development (DANSRD) where her research and teaching was focused on federal-Indian law, tribal law and government, Native justice issues, and rural human and economic development. Prior to that, she served as the founding Executive Director of the Nakwatsvewat Institute (TNI) and later as the President of TNI’s Board of Directors. Under her leadership, TNI established Hopi Dispute Resolution Services (HDRS), a community mediation program serving the Hopi community in Arizona. Early in her career, Ms. Sekaquaptewa served as the Director of the UCLA Native Nations Law and Policy Center (NNLPC) and its Tribal Legal Development Clinic (TLDC). Prior to this, she co-founded and launched the Hopi Appellate Court Clinic at UC Berkeley’s School of Law with Jerry Gardner. This clinic was subsequently housed at, and expanded by, the UCLA School of Law and became its Tribal Appellate Court Clinic. At UCLA, she provided instruction in tribal constitution and statutory drafting and tribal court development. She also taught Native Nation Building in UCLA’s American Indian Studies Program. Today she also serves as the Chief Justice of the Hopi Tribe’s high court in Arizona where she has been an Associate Justice for many years. She is a co-founder, and former longtime member of the Board of the Directors of the Tribal Law and Policy Institute in West Hollywood, CA.

O’mastewin Foster (First Day of Light Woman) is a junior at the University of Montana studying film and entertainment management. She is Amskapi Pikkuni, Assniboine, and Fort Peck Sioux, raised traditional Lakota, and was in the foster care system as a child. She has collaborated with individuals in her community and hosted events to spread the message of positivity, empowerment and inclusion. She loves creating art, advocating for others and developing new perspectives, and hopes to find healing. O’ma plans to take the skills she learns this year to strengthen her advocacy and leadership skills.

Ryan Moreno Si’al is a sophomore at Tohono O’Odham Community College in Arizona, where he’s pursuing an associate’s degree in Tohono O’odham Studies to deeply learn about his language, culture and history. Ryan then plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in pre-law and engineering, with the goal of becoming a tribal family lawyer. Ryan hopes to help children in foster care and inspire them to learn their culture’s way of life. His dream is to make an educational community center on his reservation for tribal youth to learn about our connection with the land and gain traditional skills. Ryan’s ambition to help others and become an advocate for youth began at a young age when he experienced firsthand both the positives and negatives of the foster care system. Despite his struggles, he has gained determination and resilience that will benefit him in his journey and enable him to help others. Ryan believes this fellowship will be a great step towards his goals and helping him to embrace leadership skills. He hopes to better understand the Indian Child Welfare system and find solutions and support for future generations.