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The goal of the Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom Project is to increase shared understanding and awareness of NEAR science (Neurobiology, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resilience) and ultimately build self-healing communities. Its programs seek to develop caring and competent parents, high-capacity communities, a public that is supportive to parents, and a sustainable organization that contributes to a reduction in incidents of child abuse, neglect, and out-of-home placement (foster care). The Tribal Project creates opportunities for Tribal community members (or Indigenous community members) and the broader community to find healing and support by engaging them through education and connection to protective factors through a cultural approach. The Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom Project is a collaboration between FamilyWise Services and Peacemaker Resources, a partnership that was formalized in the Spring of 2025.
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Where the Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom Project Began
In the fall of 2015, members of two Minnesota Tribal Communities, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe, launched the Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom Project. Since the project’s inception, we have expanded partnerships to include the Lower Sioux Community, and are continuing our work currently with Leech Lake, Mille Lacs and Bois Forte.
The project, a collaboration between several tribal nations in Minnesota, FamilyWise Services (home of Prevent Child Abuse MN), and The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield, and now Peacemaker Resources, was designed to build awareness and understanding regarding the root causes of the contemporary issues our tribal communities face. The project aims to combine efforts to move upstream toward prevention – breaking cycles to strengthen our families and brighten the future for our children – by amplifying community voice and wisdom to create solutions that will address our current day traumas and hardships, beginning the process of healing and remembering resilience for all our people – past, present, and future.
In each community, the first phase of the effort aims to build knowledge through a series of introductory presentations regarding Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, & Resilience (NEAR Science) thereby encouraging a common language and shared understanding throughout the community around how we have been impacted, both individually and collectively.
The next phase brought community members together to have conversations about the science, emphasizing cultural wisdom and drawing on input from the community as a core tenet of the process. Through this work, each community was able to emerge with unique plans to respond to their most pressing issues — as they defined them.
The work is a continual journey and often a reiterative process -- additional NEAR Science presentations are often needed as new folks come into the work in each community, and further conversations and planning around what is needed to address and support community members is ongoing as well.
Visit the Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom homepage, where you can also access Remembering Resilience podcasts and conversation guides, along with other great resources.
The project, a collaboration between several tribal nations in Minnesota, FamilyWise Services (home of Prevent Child Abuse MN), and The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield, and now Peacemaker Resources, was designed to build awareness and understanding regarding the root causes of the contemporary issues our tribal communities face. The project aims to combine efforts to move upstream toward prevention – breaking cycles to strengthen our families and brighten the future for our children – by amplifying community voice and wisdom to create solutions that will address our current day traumas and hardships, beginning the process of healing and remembering resilience for all our people – past, present, and future.
In each community, the first phase of the effort aims to build knowledge through a series of introductory presentations regarding Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, & Resilience (NEAR Science) thereby encouraging a common language and shared understanding throughout the community around how we have been impacted, both individually and collectively.
The next phase brought community members together to have conversations about the science, emphasizing cultural wisdom and drawing on input from the community as a core tenet of the process. Through this work, each community was able to emerge with unique plans to respond to their most pressing issues — as they defined them.
The work is a continual journey and often a reiterative process -- additional NEAR Science presentations are often needed as new folks come into the work in each community, and further conversations and planning around what is needed to address and support community members is ongoing as well.
Visit the Tribal NEAR Science and Community Wisdom homepage, where you can also access Remembering Resilience podcasts and conversation guides, along with other great resources.