- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The training portal, accessible at caltribalfoundation.org, features courses covering various topics, including tribal social services practice, collaboration between tribal and county entities, and the latest developments in state and federal laws. Additionally, the portal addresses critical areas such as education, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, and mental health—factors that often intersect with ICWA cases.
“Education and training are vital to our mission of supporting tribes and tribal families, and to protecting the rights and wellbeing of Indian children and tribal sovereignty,” said Maryann McGovran, Chairperson of CTFC and a member of the North Fork Rancheria Tribal Council, in a press release. “Our new portal represents a significant step forward in providing the resources and knowledge necessary for effective advocacy and support.”
To celebrate the launch, CTFC is offering free access to some of the training sessions until January 1, 2025. These resources will continue to be free for representatives of CTFC Member Tribes, while others will be able to purchase access. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits, such as those required by attorneys and social workers.
One of the key offerings on the portal includes a recording of a September 2024 CTFC webinar led by attorney Jack Trope, a recognized expert in Indian law and policy, and Kimberly Cluff, CTFC’s Legal Director. The session delves into the implications of two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions—Loper Bright and Corner Post—and offers eligible participants the chance to earn one hour of general participatory MCLE (Minimum Continuing Legal Education) credit from the State Bar of California.
Current and upcoming courses on the platform include:
ICWA 101: Indian Child Welfare Act: Still Here, Still Needed
ICWA 102: Placement Preferences, Court Findings & Why They Matter
ICWA 103: Active Efforts Advocacy for Special Needs Children
Annual Case Law Updates: U.S. Supreme Court and California Appellate Case Updates
Tribal Attorney Standards: Model Performance Standards for Child Welfare Representation
More Stories Like This
50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal RelationsNavajo Citizens Voice Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Coal Executive Order at Public Hearing
Apache Stronghold Will Petition the U.S. Supreme Court Again on Monday, June 23
California Senate Panel Backs Ramos Bill on Tribal Regalia Rights at Graduation
Janie Simms Hipp Named 2025 Chickasaw Nation Dynamic Woman of the Year
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
