Impacts of Trauma on Youth and Adults Involved in Tribal Justice Systems: What are Elements of a Trauma Informed Tribal Justice System (Keynote)

Marilyn J. Zimmerman (Nakota, Dakota, Ojibway, Newe), Ph.D, is a consultant and owner of her own consulting enterprise

Healing Ourselves/Healing Our Relatives
Marilyn J. Zimmerman, Consulting for Trauma-Informed Practices and Approaches for Practice in Tribal Communities


Dr. Zimmerman is retired from the role of Co-Principal Investigator and Sr. Director of Policy and Programs at the National Native Children’s Trauma Center (NNCTC), at The University of Montana. Dr. Zimmerman is the former Tribal Senior Policy Advisor at OJJDP and Founding Director of the NNCTC. She has been a member of numerous national, state, and local committees and workgroups including the U.S. Presidential (Obama) Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities and the Advisory Committee of the Attorney General’s (Holder) National Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. Dr. Zimmerman served as the Chair of the Native Advisory Committee to the The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children.

Dr. Zimmerman has expertise in trauma-informed systems-change, provides training and technical assistance in all service systems serving AI/AN children and families, and has participated in cultural adaptation of evidence-based and best practices. Finally, Dr. Zimmerman understands the relationship and community-based principals for the development of trauma-informed best practices for tribes.