FROM THE EDITORS: In a relevant statement, a group of U.S. indigenous organizations issue a powerful call as part of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. They demand a deconstruction of patriarchal colonial violence and point out that this exercise of violence, its effects and its invisibilization are the product of a cultural rupture in their ancestral heritage (in which the role of forced indigenous boarding schools played a fundamental role in the seed of violence in the community). The following is a translation of the statement, with permission from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC).
For National Domestic Violence Hotline services in Spanish, visit: National Domestic Violence Hotline.
SOURCE: You can access the original statement here: https://www.niwrc.org/news/joint-statement-dvam-2021
Indigenous Organizations Issue Joint Statement in Support of Survivors of Violence for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(LAME DEER, Mont., Oct. 1, 2021): October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which highlights a critical issue for American Indian, Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Native Hawaiian women who experience domestic violence at significantly higher rates than other women. According to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, more than 1.5 million American Indian and Alaska Native women and 1.4 million Native men have experienced violence in their lifetime, often by non-Native perpetrators. According to a 2018 report by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the rate of Native Hawaiian women experiencing violence is nearly double that of non-Hawaiian women.
We cannot emphasize this reality enough: Domestic violence is not part of the tradition of indigenous cultures and is an enduring effect of colonization. Domestic violence occurs when a person engages in one or more types of fear-inducing abuse (e.g., physical, emotional/verbal, sexual, financial, cultural, spiritual, or digital) toward a relative to maintain power and control. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of domestic violence when a current or former spouse or partner engages in a repetitive pattern of fear-inducing abuse toward a partner to maintain power and control in a relationship. This pattern of abuse can occur in dating relationships, married relationships, or relationships that are living together, have children together, or after the relationship has ended.
We cannot emphasize this reality enough: Domestic violence is not part of the tradition of indigenous cultures and is an enduring effect of colonization.
Research shows that most intimate partner violence is perpetrated by men against women, although anyone can experience domestic violence or VIPs in their relationships. Today, the legacy of colonization and oppression of native peoples continues to impose and promote the domination and ownership of indigenous women by men, as reflected in the disproportionate rates of domestic and sexual violence against women observed throughout history since first contact with the colonizers.
This legacy of colonization also includes the forced removal of generations of Native children from their families who suffered abuse during their relocation to federal boarding schools. Girls in particular suffered sexual abuse, rape, forced pregnancies and abortions, and murder while in these schools. This legacy of trauma is one of the most terrible realities about the violence against our peoples and has had devastating effects on those families with members in these boarding schools or who had children killed in them. We believe that these realities created a wake in the levels of the crisis of violence against indigenous women and that now emerges as evidence of the living violence against indigenous peoples that continues today.
Violence against Indigenous women is preventable, and will end when Indigenous nations have full self-governing authority, including authority over non-Indigenous perpetrators who commit this violence. In addition, Indigenous communities require the resources necessary to support Native victim-survivors on their path to healing. Indigenous peoples continue to be disproportionately affected by violence, with little or no access to life-saving services and shelters, due to the federal government’s failure to inspire confidence in its responsibility to assist Indigenous peoples and Native Hawaiian individuals to keep their communities safe and stable. Native domestic violence shelters provide critical advocacy, such as safety planning, resources and support for Native victims and survivors, yet there are only 58 Native domestic violence shelters nationwide, for 574 peoples and nationalities, indicating an urgent and unmet need. This is especially concerning during the pandemic considering the need for social distancing within public areas and the increase in domestic violence in general.
Violence against indigenous women is preventable, and will end when indigenous nations have full self-governing authority, including authority over non-indigenous perpetrators who commit this violence.
Indigenous and Pueblo programs need access to critical and ongoing funding to ensure that our family members have access to the full range of medical, healing and advocacy support that people desperately need. As Indigenous organizations we recognize our responsibility as family members to speak out against domestic violence and ensure that the voices of survivors are honored and heard. Together we ask each of you to honor the needs of Indigenous victims and survivors of domestic violence by listening to them, believing them and supporting them on their journey to healing this October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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About the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center:
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC) is a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and girls. NIWRC provides national leadership to end gender-based violence in tribal communities by elevating the collective voices of women advocates accompanying victims and offering culturally informed resources, technical assistance and training, and policy development to strengthen peoples’ sovereignty. niwrc.org
About StrongHearts native helpline:
StrongHearts Native Helpline was created and built to serve Native communities across the United States. It is a culturally appropriate, anonymous, confidential and free service dedicated to serving Native American and Alaska Native survivors and family and friends concerned about and/or affected by domestic violence, dating violence and sexual violence. Advocates are available 24/7 by texting or calling 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483) or via online chat at strongheartshelpline.org. Connect with expert advocates who can provide life-saving tools and immediate support to enable survivors to find safety and live lives free from abuse. StrongHearts Native Helpline is a proud partner of the National Indian Women’s Resource Center and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. For more information, visit strongheartshelpline.org.
About the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center:
Organized in 2015, the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (AKNWRC) is a Native nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against women in Alaska’s 229 villages and allied organizations. AKNWRC board members and staff are Alaska Native women, educated in Alaska Native villages, and have over 250 years of combined experience in village government, non-profit management, domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy (both individual crisis and systemic advocacy for social change in victim accompaniment at local, state, regional, national and international levels) as well as other social service experience. AKNWRC’s philosophy is that violence against women is rooted in the colonization of indigenous nations and is therefore dedicated to strengthening local government and community responses through community organizing efforts that advocate for the safety of women and girls in their communities and homes from domestic and sexual abuse and violence.aknwrc.org
About the Indian Law Resource Center:
Founded in 1978 by Native Americans, the Indian Law Resource Center (ILRC) is a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to Native American peoples to combat racism and oppression, protect their lands and environment, protect their cultures, achieve sustainable economic development and genuine self-government, and achieve their other human rights. ILRC’s Safe Women, Strong Nation project works with indigenous women’s organizations and Native nations to end violence against indigenous women. ILRC has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. indianlaw.org
About Urban Indian Health Institute:
Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) is a branch of the Seattle Indian Health Board, one of 12 Native Epidemiology Centers and the only one serving Urban Indian Health Programs nationwide. UIHI conducts research and assessments, collects and analyzes data, and provides disease surveillance to strengthen the health of urban Native communities across the country. UIHI focuses on the strengths of Native communities while addressing the health disparities they face. UIHI uses the best of Western science, but is rooted in indigenous practices. Decolonize data for indigenous peoples, by indigenous peoples. uihi.org
About Rising Hearts Coalition:
Rising Hearts is a grassroots, Indigenous-led organization committed to heart work to elevate Indigenous voices and promote and support intersectional and collaborative efforts across movements with racial, social, climate and economic justice goals. Our primary goals are to inform, uplift, mobilize and organize through strategic and targeted advocacy and collaborative partnerships to help create a better and safer future and environment for all family members who inhabit this planet – past, present and future.risinghearts.org
About Pouhana O Na Wahine:
Pouhana O Na Wahine (PONW) is a grassroots organization focused on opening a Native Hawaiian Resource Center on domestic violence to reduce the disparities faced by Native Hawaiians, dating back to the days of contact with foreigners, resulting in the overthrow of our monarch to today’s violence and injustice. Our vision is to restore balance of mind, body and spirit, bringing our people to a state of wellness; and to preserve and promote Hawaiian culture to help families and communities heal from domestic and sexual violence and colonization. Our mission is to advocate for Native Hawaiian families facing challenges related to domestic and gender-based violence by exercising our inherent sovereign rights as indigenous Hawaiian peoples to care for and protect our people. Collectively, the people of PONW have over 50 years of experience in the field of advocacy and social service and are all Kanaka Oiwi who have a passion to help heal past and present generations to ensure a healthier future.
