At Siletz Valley Schools: Rise Up, Stand Up, K’wee-shvt-naa-gha (Peacemakers)
By Tiffany Stuart
Seventy-seven organizations rep-
r esen t in g 4 0 st at es h ave r eceived
grant funds to support JJDPA (Juve-
nile Justice and Delinquency Preven-
tion Act) awareness and YJAM (Youth
Justice Action Month) programming
this past fall, including Siletz Valley
Sch ool, wh ich received $ 5,0 0 0 for
peacemaking.
Program s ranging from com m u-
nity resource and job fairs, JJDPA
educational campaigns, art advocacy
and m ental health town halls, these
programs will uplift the importance of
the 50 th anniversary and reauthoriza-
tion of the JJDPA as well as promote
actions for youth justice transform a-
tion across the country.
In honor and in celebration of the
JJDPA’s 50 th anniversary, and with
support from the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
the Coalition for Juvenile Justice
(CJJ) and National Youth Justice
Network (NYJN) are administering
2024 JJDPA/YJAM mini-grants to
increase public education and aware-
ness about the JJDPA, preventing
youth-involvement in the legal system,
Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM)
and related activities across the nation.
These fun ds are m ade available
under OJJDP’s FY 2023 Juvenile Jus-
tice and Delinquency Prevention Act
Outreach an d Education Subgran ts
Program .
The grant allows students to be
trained as peacemakers in the school
and plan a community event to bring
awaren ess to the youth m ovem en t.
SVS peacemakers presented the YOU
MATTER Fall Carnival.
Overall, 198 students and adults
attended the Fall Carnival (babies and
toddlers attended too!). The grant also
included funding for two huge bouncy
houses, T-shirts, peacemaker signs
and restorative justice consultation.
The five SVS high school students
who were trained as peacemakers met
for 10 sessions. Students received a
$50 Visa card for all their hard work.
A unique part of the grant was
allowing elders to take part in this
tr ain in g an d com m u n ity bu ild in g.
Elders also received gift cards.
The high school students started
their journey with our elder, Robert
Kentta, to learn about how tradition-
ally K’wee-shvt-naa-gha, the “go
between,” handled conflict. Through-
out the 10 weeks, community partners
attended our peacemaking circles and
helped at the carnival.
Than k you to the Con federated
Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI), City
of Siletz, Siletz Valley School Board,
Conflict Artistry LLC, Lincoln County
School District-TAPP Program, SVS
Culinary Program, SVS Middle School
Student Council, Phoenix Wellness
Center and Lincoln County Sheriff’s
Office.
The Siletz Clinic Farm Property
donated pumpkins for a teen pump-
kin painting event. The specific Tribal
departments that helped included
Courtesy photos
Above: Students attend a peacemak-
ing circle.
Right: The four R’s used in the pro-
gram include respect, reciprocity,
relationality and responsibility.
Tobacco Prevention, the CARE Pro-
gram and Indian Child Welfare.
We are grateful for the partner-
ships and will continue to invite our
partners and elders into our school.
Currently, peacemakers have weekly
talking circles and are planning for
another training in the future for more
trained high school and middle school
peacemakers.
January 2025
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Siletz News
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