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Justice Dept. to announce new justice initiative for tribes

Brianna Bragg, left, and Shilo George explore themes such as Indigequeer identity, Two-Spiritness, disability, boundaries, survivance. Photo illustration by Jarrette Werk and Shilo George

The Justice Department just released this announcement today, a statement regarding a new justice initiative in Indian Country:

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli will address the National Congress of American Indians during the First General Assembly of their 2009 Mid-Year Conference on Monday, June 15, at 10:00 A.M. ET in Niagara Falls, N.Y. In his remarks, Perrelli will announce a new major Justice Department initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on tribal justice in Indian Country.

WHO: Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli

WHAT: Announcement of a new major initiative on tribal justice

WHEN: MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2009

10:00 A.M. ET

WHERE: The Conference Center Niagara Falls

101 Old Falls Street

Niagara Falls, N.Y.

NOTE: The First General Assembly will begin at 8:00 A.M. ET, and Associate Attorney General Perrelli is scheduled to deliver remarks at 10:00 A.M. ET. Perrelli will be available for media interviews immediately following his remarks. Contact Melissa Schwartz at (202) 305-5625 to schedule interviews or for press inquiries regarding logistics.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.