Women are Sacred

Domestic violence is a power and control issue. There are various forms of domestic violence: verbal, emotional, physical, economic, sexual, intimidation, and social isolation abuses. “I remember the first time he hit me. I was shocked. Then the hitting soon became beatings almost every day. Even though I was pregnant, he did not care. He told me if I didn’t act up he wouldn’t have to punish me. I was so scared for my baby”. –Amber* 19 years old and 5 months pregnant, Oklahoma

Without prejudice against race, religion, age, or financial status women and children across the country have suffered from abuse. Without support, resources, and education the last 20 years have been a brutal time for many women across the nation. Native women experience three and a half times the rate of violence than any other race in America. “I tried to get help from my dad but, he said that I made by bed and now I should lie in it. My father was angry with me because I had children and he said it was my fault I put myself in that type of position. I felt so alone and it hurt; I thought daddies were supposed to protect their daughters. My mom couldn't even help me, she could barely take care of herself. I was so alone."
-Flora* 25 years old, California

Previous faulty “forgive and forget” tribal mediation programs have been offered as resources promoting maintenance of family and tribal unity rather than on providing justice and safety for women. Survivors of domestic and sexual violence programs historically have been pressured to “forgive and forget.” “My son heard me screaming and I hollered to him to get the neighbors and he did. He saved my life. But, we live in an area that everyone knows everyone else’s business. I know people talk about me, like I broke the family up. It’s so hard to fend him off and my community when everyone thinks we should be a family. -Anna* 32 years old, Colorado

Indian Country is unique with culturally specific forms of violence often compounded with the forms of violence listed above. Cultural abuses may include blood quantum and competition of one’s “Indianness,” tribal family loyalties can increase family violence (beatings of family members who interfere with helping the victim) and “male-privilege” images based upon distorted versions of traditional ways. “Everyone knew he beat me and called me half-breed. He would laugh at me in public and tell me to stop acting so white, in front of everyone! I was busted up all the time in my face. My friends were worried but, no one could help. I wasn’t the only one either. We just had to be tough; it's the way it was." –Starlene* 45 years old, Minnesota

Intergenerational trauma and the boarding school experience have left long-lasting effects of family life emphasizing a need to return to traditional life. Many students were forcibly taken from homes at a young age and placed in industrial schools where language, culture, tradition, clothing and family values were forbidden. Violations of these assimilation programs were enforced by violent discipline, beatings, and solitary confinement. Many of these students were exposed to sexual assault and broken families. No one likes to talk about getting beat up. My uncle told me something one day and he started to cry. That school really messed him up. He’s been a drinker for his whole life, no one really got to know him, not even his kids because auntie left with them when they were babies. They talked about the schools one day at school. A lot of bad things happened there. I bet when my Uncle was really young. Mom told me he was taken away. Denny*, 13 years old, North Dakota

Know how to help.

Sacred Circle offers important facts about battered women. What safety means to a battered woman:

• Being protected from his violence everywhere she goes.
• Having her children with her and able to keep them safe.
• Being heard and believed.
• Being supported in her decisions.
• Having a home and the things she needs to support herself and her children.
• Not having to explain what she did to survive.
• Having the time, space and support to regain power and control over her life.
• Not having to justify what she wants and needs.
• Accurate information about battering, oppression, her culture and resources.
• Knowing it's not her fault.
• Not having to be perfect to be protected or respected.
• Being able to walk her path without barriers or fear.
• Being treated as a woman; not sick, crazy, a case or part of the "problem."
• Being treated as a relative.

For more information on how you can find help in your native community, please contact:

Sacred Circle the National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women

1-605-341-2050

or

The National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

In the last 80 years Natives have suffered intergenerational trauma, personal and cultural offenses for being Indian, genocide, forced sterilization from funded medical clinics during “routine examinations,” and broken family structures from the boarding school years. Recent breakthroughs include the first model for research on sexual assault called Shattered Hearts. In 2009 a group of professional and community women collected data at The Minnesota Women’s Resource Center and broke new ground in ending violence against women, another step in finding a way to break the silence and make change. Many professionals, advocates, and counselors on the outside do not understand Native women have legitimate reasons to distrust the “system.” After all, memories—both personal and cultural—of forced sterilization and other violent ‘treatment’ procedures are not so far in the distant past for many Native Americans (Cangleska, Inc.)

White Bison, Inc. is an American Indian organization founded in 1988. White Bison offers healing resources designed for sobriety for Native Americans through education, cultural trauma, recovery, and prevention. White Bison's national tours and conferences have transgressed the country leaving social workers, advocates, counselors, and community members better equipped to understand the complexity of intergenerational trauma throughout the last century and it’s affect throughout our native communities. A large piece of abuse and cultural identity is trauma which leads to fragmented families, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Facilitation of the Wellbriety programs play an important role in ending domestic violence and abuse. Below are samples of theories provided of the loss of sacredness of women leading to domestic violence through various other trauma that erodes sacred life, women and families.

Life before the Boarding School Experience Last 1 Life Before the Boarding Schools
Last 100+ years after boarding schools, Today

Domestic violence has been shrouded in protocols of silence, broken systems and unwarranted acceptance. Domestic violence is fueled by substance abuse, fragmented communities and prior physical abuse. The first step is education, the second step is intervention.

Will you be a part of the third step? CHANGE for abuse victims.

The goal, to return to family values and healing.

A word from a professional, an advocate, and author, and a survivor:

Curriculum slides used in live presentation, courtesy of White Bison, Inc. for contribution of material and immense gratitude for their tireless work in suppressing cyclical substance abuse and the promoting the reunification of family and Native traditions in healing.

Incredible appreciation to Sacred Circle & Cangelska, Inc. for providing the first national resource center specifically to educate, advocate, and supply support to all nations in their fight to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault across Indian Country.

Thank you to Minnesota Women’s Resource Center including staff and volunteers who paved the road for research and outcomes of the sexual exploitation of all Native women.

Lastly, utmost respect to White Buffalo Calf Women’s Society of Rosebud reservation, South Dakota for building the first domestic violence shelter for Native women on a reservation in America. We follow you.





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