This document presents an overview of the 2008 conference, Walking on Common Ground II: Continuing Pathways to Equal Justice.
The 2008 conference, Walking on Common Ground II: Continuing Pathways to Equal Justice brought together 118 participants from tribal, State, and Federal justice communities to assess what had occurred since the 2005 meetings and to promote the collaboration, education, and sharing of resources to benefit Indian communities. The report presents the outcomes of the conference proceedings. Lower 48: The Regional Groups, is a compilation of the challenges and solutions presented at the meeting by each regional group from the Lower 48 States, that include perception of tribal courts, major crimes and prosecutions, sustaining the healing to wellness drug courts, validation of and enforcement of tribal court orders, communication and education, tribal court development challenges, and protecting tribal sovereignty. The proceedings also include an article examining the role of Indian tribal courts in the U.S. criminal justice system, and two final sections that include an examination of the regional groups in Alaska as well as a look at tribal courts in Alaska from the perspective of bush justice. Bibliography