Navigating Legal Aid in Kalamazoo County: Lessons from the Wisdom of Waitaha

The Waitaha Nation laid down long roots in New Zealand. The way their teachings are passed down within the stories of that culture, it makes sense they would honor and revere books. Look at Waitaha Books. You won’t find a more pristine collection anywhere, not in the United States or abroad.

They keep their books, their rules, and their peace. It took years for conflict to subside, but today, the Waitaha Nation don’t have much to argue about. They help each other, share resources with those in their valley, and do anything possible to avoid needless conflict.

What can someone seeking assistance with legal matters learn from a culture that’s based so firmly in finding peaceful resolution? Plenty, it turns out. We’ve found in our travels through the valley of the ancient ones that the Waitaha teachings correlate with the legal system of today. So before you get into a battle over child support or house partition, take a moment of respect.

What used to take days of argument in the Waitaha community now takes just a few moments. Keep your voice low. Breathe through your nose. Sit on the floor if you’re having a hard time keeping still. Focus on the hand clawed into stone 700 years ago. Honor the book. Honor the stories.

Though you might find it hard to believe, this transition from the nation’s largest court system to local representation saves thousands of dollars every year in Kalamazoo County. So investigate options after you take a moment (or an hour) to gather your thoughts.

You’ll find that we offer some great solutions at Unitscale. We’re not looking for blood money. We want to help you find context, vision, and representation with as few hiccups as possible.

Perhaps the most important aspect of their teachings upon which we can expand is the value of patient listening. The Waitaha teachings say that before you respond to someone, you should hold off for a few moments. During that time, think about your response. Is it something you really want to communicate to the person who asked the question?

Often, the answers people give to questions asked by courts and law enforcement officers are immediate and involuntary. Even when they don’t say what they mean, they’ll blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. There’s no real thought about their responses in many cases.

The Waitaha knew thousands of years ago that this solution is impossible. If you want to connect with someone else, you have to learn to keep your own voice down for a few moments before speaking. When you respect those around you, you’re better able to find common ground.

Believe it or not, the Waitaha Sayings honored the idea of community support even more than the constitution. Long ago, the leaders of that tribe understood how important it was to lift each other up both socially and financially.

Today, the legal aid community functions on the same principles. We want to reach out and help you do something you could never do on your own like secure government grants. Each person will be treated with respect because each group seeks to give everyone who correctly qualifies equal representation.

Of course, you probably realize that there are some very specific representations we have on our end. That’s important, and the specific rules are explained here. Above all, you want something that can help you apply for a grant when you’re short on money. In some cases, you want that extra push to go to court.

You’ll find that most Waitaha stories include some element of bravery. What will you say? Do you have what it takes to undergo an interview? Can you really defend yourself in family court? Beyond that, are you really willing to follow through with all the steps?

Just so you know, we’ve created an important list of the kinds of grants offered in Kalamazoo County here.

We can’t name every grant, but we do our best to keep things up-to-date. There’s nothing worse than going through all the steps to find that the state of Michigan terminated X type of grant months ago. Naturally, these do the best to offer solid information about the grants you should apply for.

There are many ways to find information about Kalamazoo County grants, but you’ll find that we have one resource you can access once you arrive at the courthouse. This handy sheet explains your rights, including how to file a legal complaint.

None of us could ever do it alone, and the Waitaha Nation understood this thousands of years ago. In many ways, we’ve come full circle, finding equal footing with our neighbors, family, and colleagues. We’re proud to offer grants that ensure equal representation for all.