Warrior Women: The story of Red Power

This is part of an article from Indian Country Today about a great documentary that a professor from University of South Dakota is working on.

VERMILLION, S.D. – During the height of political unrest in Indian country during the 1960s and ’70s, men such as Russell Means, Dennis Banks and Clyde and Vernon Bellecourt were the media-recognized leaders of Red Power, the grass roots movement marked by its activism and a resurgence of Indian cultural identity, pride and traditionalism.

...snip...

But away from much of the media attention stood such women as Madonna Thunder Hawk, Lorelei DeCora, Janet McCloud, Pat Bellanger, Lakota Harden, and LaNada Means War Jack. These were just a few of the Indian women in the trenches of the Red Power movement.

Now, the untold stories of Native women activists will be documented in an upcoming film, “Warrior Women,” a one-hour documentary to be aired on PBS. University of South Dakota Assistant Professor Elizabeth Castle, the film’s writer and producer, eyes a 2012 completion date for the film, which is in pre-production. The project is the recent recipient of a grant from Native American Public Telecommunications.

...snip...
In the aftermath of AIM’s occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973, women carried on their activism. “This is such an unknown area of history,” Castle said.

Many Indian women were at the forefront of looking at the connection between health and environment, said Castle, noting their involvement in the Black Hills Alliance, the formation of Women of All Red Nations, the fight against forced sterilization and the establishment of survival schools.

“It was a movement of family and community, and at the heart of family and community are women,” Castle said. “Women are the story of Red Power.”

I encourage you to click on the link and read the whole story on ICT.

Presidential Proclamation on National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Oct)

White House Press Release:

For Immediate Release

October 01, 2010

Presidential Proclamation--National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, 2010

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

In the 16 years since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), we have broken the silence surrounding domestic violence to reach thousands of survivors, prevent countless incidences of abuse, and save untold numbers of lives.  While these are critical achievements, domestic violence remains a devastating public health crisis when one in four women will be physically or sexually assaulted by a partner at some point in her lifetime.  During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the tremendous progress made in reducing domestic violence, and we recommit to making everyone's home a safe place for them.

My Administration is committed to reducing the prevalence of domestic violence.  Last year, I appointed the first-ever White House Advisor on Violence Against Women to collaborate with the many Federal agencies working together to end domestic violence in this country.  Together with community efforts, these Federal programs are making important strides towards eliminating abuse.

The landmark Affordable Care Act also serves as a lifeline for domestic violence victims.  Before I signed this legislation in March, insurance companies in eight States and the District of Columbia were able to classify domestic violence as a pre existing condition, leaving victims at risk of not receiving vital treatment when they are most vulnerable.  Now, victims need not fear the additional burden of increased medical bills as they attempt to protect themselves and rebuild their lives.

Individuals of every race, gender, and background face domestic violence, but some communities are disproportionately affected.  In order to combat the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in tribal areas, I signed the Tribal Law and Order Act to strengthen tribal law enforcement and its ability to prosecute and fight crime more effectively.  This important legislation will also help survivors of domestic violence get the medical attention, services, support, and justice they need.

Children exposed to domestic violence, whether victims or witnesses, also need our help.  Without intervention, they are at higher risk for failure in school, emotional disorders, substance abuse, and perpetrating violent behavior later in life.  That is why my Administration has launched the "Defending Childhood" initiative at the Department of Justice to revitalize prevention, intervention, and response systems for children exposed to violence.  The Department of Health and Human Services is also expanding services and enhancing community responses for children exposed to violence.

Ending domestic violence requires a collaborative effort involving every part of our society.  Our law enforcement and justice system must work to hold offenders accountable and to protect victims and their children.  Business, faith, and community leaders, as well as educators, health care providers, and human service professionals, also have a role to play in communicating that domestic violence is always unacceptable.  As a Nation, we must endeavor to protect survivors, bring offenders to justice, and change attitudes that support such violence.  I encourage victims, their loved ones, and concerned citizens to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 800-799-SAFE or visit:  www.TheHotline.org.

This month -- and throughout the year -- let each of us resolve to be vigilant in recognizing and combating domestic violence in our communities, and let us build a culture of safety and support for all those affected.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  I call on all Americans to speak out against domestic violence and support local efforts to assist victims of these crimes in finding the help and healing they need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Conference - Protecting Native Children Who Disclose Sexual Abuse During Custody Disputes

From the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition:

Save the Date: November 8-9,2010

National Conference:

HONORING OUR SACRED TRUST: Protecting Native Children Who Disclose Sexual Abuse During Custody Disputes

Mystic Lake Event Center

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Reservation - Shakopee, MN

Click here to register!

Click here to apply for a scholarship to attend. (Deadline for scholarship applications is Oct 15)

National Conference Goals:

•  Identify appropriate and effective cultural/tribal responses for children, battered women, who disclose sexual abuse during custody disputes
•  Identify intersection between child sexual abuse and domestic violence (ICWA and non-ICWA cases)

This National Conference will be useful for:

Judges

Attorneys

Advocates

Guardian Ad Litem

Civil Legal Assistants

Court Appointed Special Advocates

Child Protection Workers

Sponsored by: Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, the Tribal Law

& Policy Institute, and Mending the Sacred Hoop

CEU's will be offered for attendance

For further information please contact:

Minnesota Indian Woman’s Sexual Assault Coalition

1619 DAYTON AVE, SUITE 303, SAINT PAUL, MN 55104

Phone: 651-646-4800 Fax: 651-646-4798

Toll Free: 877-995-4800

www.miwsac.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Coalition Information19 Dayton Ave. Suite 303 St. Paul, MN. 55104
Phone: 651-646-4800
Fax: 651-646-4798
Toll Free: 1-877-995-4800

The Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) is a statewide tribal coalition with individual and program membership from across the state. MIWSAC was founded in October of 2001 through funding from the US Departmentof Justice, Violence Against Women Office. MIWSAC incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization in 2004. As one of 22 Tribal Coalitions around the country formed to address sexual assault and domestic violence in American Indian Communities, we focus specifically on ending and preventing sexual violence.

Our statewide membership is comprised of American Indian and Alaska Native women and allies who bring with them extensive cultural knowledge and long histories of working in sexual assault and/or domestic violence programs. They are the heart of our Coalition and provides direction in our strategic planning, goal setting, and all other major programmatic decision making. This collective decision making reflects our tribal values and strengthens the vision of the work we do on behalf of all survivors. MIWSAC strives to reclaim the traditional values that honor the sovereignty of our women and children by incorporating culture and spirituality into every aspect of program operations.

Hogan v Kaltag Tribal Council Decision

This is press release from the Native American Rights Fund

Hogan v. Kaltag Tribal Council Decision
October 4, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Natalie Landreth, Staff Attorney and Counsel for Kaltag, (907)276-0680.

This morning the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the State’s appeal in the case of Hogan v. Kaltag Tribal Council, thus effectively ending the case and clearly reinforcing the rule that tribal courts have authority to initiate and fully adjudicate children’s cases.

The Kaltag Tribal Council had taken emergency custody of one of its member children due to allegations of abuse and neglect and, after conducting hearings and finding a suitable home, it terminated the rights of the birth parents and issued an order of adoption to the adoptive parents in Huslia. Kaltag then notified the State of Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics about the adoption and requested a new birth certificate reflecting the names of the adoptive parents and the new last name of the child. The State refused, claiming that it did not owe full faith and credit to the decision of the Kaltag Tribal Court because Kaltag did not have jurisdiction to initiate the case at all.

In the fall of 2006, NARF filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Kaltag Tribal Council and the adoptive parents to enforce the full faith and credit provision of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). In February 2008, the United States District Court rejected the State’s claims and held that Tribes have jurisdiction to adjudicate adoptions and child-in-need-of-aid (CINA) type cases over their member children, and that the Tribal Court’s decisions are entitled to full faith and credit by the State. In a detailed and thoughtful opinion, the Court reaffirmed what the United States Supreme Court stated in the Holyfield case that the ICWA created “concurrent but presumptively tribal jurisdiction in the case of children not living on a reservation.” The Court also noted that denying tribal jurisdiction in CINA-type cases would leave Tribes “powerless to help children in their own villages at the most critical time.” The Court’s decision was then summarily affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

This case reaffirms the rule that when Tribes adjudicate domestic matters of their own member children, whether it is a simple voluntary adoption or a CINA-type case, their decisions are entitled to full faith and credit.

Counsel for Kaltag, Natalie Landreth, said “The fact is that the Kaltag Tribal Court was doing what it, and the 561 other tribes in this country, has been doing since time immemorial: taking care of their own children. This case never should have been appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and the Plaintiffs are very glad that their victory stands.” Moreover, the Native American Rights Fund and plaintiffs Kaltag Tribal Council and Hudson and Selina Sam call upon Governor Parnell and Attorney General Sullivan to rescind the Renkes Opinion issued in October 2004 and instead take this opportunity to work with tribes and tribal courts to ensure the protection of all children, no matter which court their case is in.

A film you should see -Boys Men and Healing

This is a ten minute excerpt from a documentary about boys and men healing from sexual abuse.



If you're interested in obtaining the film, go to the Big Voice Pictures Web site. Unfortunately, there's an ad at the very end of the clip, so when the theme changes dramatically you can click the stop button!

National Indian Nations Conference Dec 9-11

Thanks Sarah Deer for this announcement:

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, within the U.S. Department of Justice is pleased to announce the 12th National Indian Nations Conference: Justice for Victims of Crime. The Conference will be held December 9 — 11, 2010, in Palm Springs California, with the theme, "Walking in Harmony: Honoring Victim Voices to Achieve Safety, Justice & Healing." This year's conference is coordinated again by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute under a grant from OVC.

The purpose of the 12th National Indian Nations Conference — the largest U.S. Department of Justice sponsored Indian Nations conference — is to bring together Native American victims, victim advocates, tribal leaders, victim service providers, community volunteers, prosecutors, judicial and law enforcement personnel, family violence and sexual assault specialists, medical providers, social services and mental health personnel, probation/corrections, criminal justice and juvenile justice personnel, as well as federal and state agency representatives to share their knowledge, experiences and ideas for developing programs that serve the unique needs of crime victims in Indian Country.

For more information or to register:

http://ovcinc.org

TEDx Talk by Photographer Aaron Huey

This is a very touching photo documentary of Lakota history that Aaron Huey presented at the TEDx conference this year. The photos are of the Pine Ridge Reservation with narration of the history of genocide. It's really excellent. Especially pay attention to his last comment. I agree wholeheartedly.

Bear Chief: Abuse survivors must be able to tell their stories

Thanks Jessica Yee for forwarding this article from Indian Country Today. I'm just going to put the whole thing here, since it's an important message.

By Ken Bear Chief
Story Published: Sep 20, 2010
Story Updated: Sep 17, 2010
I wish we lived in a perfect world where every Indian child has felt loved, valued and accepted; and where they could have all been safe from harm and abuse by others. But, sadly this is not our history. Treaties were made and broken, we were confined to reservations, our traditional ways of life were taken away from us, and our independence was replaced by new laws, a new religion, and a new culture.

We may have all been of different tribes, languages, traditions, and our own religious beliefs and practices, but one thing binds us together, we all suffered the same holocaust, and genocidal events. At the residential schools every kindness, every act of aggression, control and dominance, was done in order to accomplish a goal, “to kill the Indian, and save the man.”

After more than 100 years of abuse at the residential schools, the history of that method is finally being exposed in all its ugliness. The historical telling of this period of Native American history has been told by the government and the religious orders given the task of accomplishing the integration of Indians into white society. There is also our own account of what happened to our people during those turbulent years and to the children who were taken from their families and sent to the residential schools.
I wish we lived in a perfect world where every Indian child has felt loved, valued and accepted. What was stolen from the survivors of rape and molestation at the residential schools and missions was their sense of control and trust – in their world and in their relationships. The harm and loss was so great that in most cases abuse survivors were never fully able to trust or feel safe again. Survivors of sexual abuse not only have difficulty trusting others, but live their lives suffering from the effects of trauma caused by childhood abuse. This often created a spiral into a lifetime of abuse – emotional, sexual or physical, and they often suffered manifestations of abuse which include depression, anxiety, anger, fear, and substance abuse to name of few of these trauma traits.

What I have learned is that this has created a multi-generational cycle of abuse that affects our reservation communities to this day. We must recognize this fact, and begin a community healing to restore our balance and well-being by using our own traditional ways and by speaking openly about this so we can begin restoring our communities from within.

Recently, many victims of childhood abuse started coming forward and seeking justice for the physical and sexual abuses they suffered at the residential schools. There have been efforts to do this in the past with limited success and much failure. But now, they are being represented by Tamaki Law Offices of Yakima, Wash., and other law firms in the Northwest and in South Dakota who are knowledgeable and committed to their Native American clients.

Most childhood sexual abuses committed at the residential and boarding schools are unreported. The reasons for this are varied: Lack of support by the families of the victims or the community; the victims are unaware that they may still have a right to seek justice; there are deadlines to file claims before they become time barred; or that a state has changed its laws affecting the rights of victims as was done in South Dakota.

Even when victims of abuse come forward, reactions of others in Indian communities can exacerbate the harm. Most people are not comfortable with this reality. They would prefer to ignore or downplay its impact on the survivor, or feel this should remain in the past. Responses from friends and family range from silence, to placing inappropriate blame and responsibility on the victim, even accusing them of lying, or that they are causing embarrassment for the families and the community, resulting in wrongly placed self-blame by the victims which only adds to their pain.

Survivors of abuse need to be able to tell their story. Otherwise, subconsciously and cognitively their emotions are frozen in the past. Their lives were irreversibly changed due to the sexual, physical and emotional abuses they suffered at the mission schools. Either by coming forward in the legal process or by talking about it with others begins the healing process and they start to pull their lives together and create a new restored being. I believe self-worth can be restored after trauma. How we all share in the responsibility of helping our Native American brothers and sisters who were victims of abuse to heal is up to each of us individually. Ultimately, we must always remember what our elders taught us. Mine told me to treat one another, and ourselves, with respect and compassion.

Ken Bear Chief, Gros Ventre, Nooksack, Nez Perce, is a paralegal/victim liaison with Tamaki Law Offices of Yakima, Wash. Since 2008, he has been investigating clergy sexual abuse of Native Americans who attended the Catholic/Jesuit/Oblate operated residential schools during the period of 1940 – 1980, and has interviewed nearly 200 victims of abuse throughout reservations in Washington, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota.

Men Organizing to End Domestic Violence

Wonderful news in an email I received today. A (free) men's dv program in Minnesota. The Wellstone Institute is truly doing great things.

Scholarships provided for out of town travelers for one night hotel and a gas card, please contact Lonna at Lonna@wellstone.org for more information.

United Way Greater Twin Cities

Camp Sheila Wellstone : “Taking a Stand‐ Men Organizing to End Violence Against Women”

The Sheila Wellstone Institute along with a team of men from Minnesota organizations who are working to end violence will host the first-ever Camp Sheila Wellstone for Men, an historic state-wide gathering of men who are working to end violence. This men-only conference will be held in the Twin Cities and is designed to:

· Build a stronger coalition of men who are working against violence in Minnesota

· Provide education about violence against women and effective - models of prevention

· Teach critical organizing and advocacy skills that build power and end violence against women and children

WHERE: Best Western Kelly Inn WHEN: Sept. 23rd-24th, 2010
161 St. Anthony Ave. 1:00pm —5:00pm Thursday
St. Paul, MN55103 and 8:30am—4pm Friday

Register for this FREE training, click on this link:

https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/114/mtglistproc.asp?formid=MTGC3&caleventid=7119

For more information, please contact Lonna Hunter, Director of Sheila Wellstone Institute @ 651- 414-6034, lonna@wellstone.org or

Dave Mathews, DMathews@mndap.org.

FEATURING:

Performances from youthrive — a group of young adults who seek to inspire and engage through education, leadership, and service to integrate peacemaking into their lives. They will join us for spoken word and improv.

Keynote Speaker — Ted Bunch, Co-founder of A CALL TO MEN: The National Association of Men
and Women Committed to Ending Violence Against Women

Ted is recognized both nationally and internationally for his expertise in organizing and educating men in the effort to end violence against women. He is dedicated to strengthening community accountability to end all forms of violence against women. Ted is formerly the Senior Director and Co-creator of Safe Horizon's Domestic Violence Accountability Program which is the largest program for domestic violence offenders in America.

Trainers:

Dave Matthews, Domestic Abuse Project
Chuck Derry, Minnesota Men’s Action Network
Joe Morse, Beyond ToughGuise
Pheng Thao, Asian Women United

...and others!

Lonna Hunter, Director
Sheila Wellstone Institute
2446 University Avenue, Suite 170
St. Paul, MN 55114

651-414-6034 Direct Line
651-414-6032 FAX

lonna@wellstone.org

www.wellstone.org

Press Release from the Justice Department

Big announcement today. Here's the press release.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS $127 MILLION TO IMPROVE TRIBAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

First Grants Awarded Through New Streamlined Grant Process
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of American Indian and Alaskan Native communities will receive almost $127 million to enhance law enforcement, bolster justice systems, prevent youth substance abuse, serve sexual assault and elder victims, and support other efforts to combat crime. These grants are the first under the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a new effort combining 10 different Department of Justice grant programs into a single solicitation.

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli announced the CTAS awards today at the National Museum of the American Indian. Perrelli noted that Attorney General Holder and other Department of Justice leadership held tribal listening sessions last year. The department developed CTAS in response to views shared at these sessions, Tribal consultation events and other feedback from tribal leaders.

"Today, we take another major step toward true nation-to-nation collaboration," said Perrelli. "CTAS is not only a more streamlined grant-making process, it is part of the department's broader strategy of increased engagement with tribal communities across a broad range of areas."

CTAS includes most of the tribal programs from the department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The programs were listed as 10 purpose areas. In previous years, tribes seeking funding for more than one of these purposes would need to submit multiple grant applications. With CTAS, tribes were able to submit a single application while selecting multiple purpose areas, ranging from juvenile justice to violence against women.

"This approach not only saves time and resources, but it also allows tribes and the Department to gain a better understanding of overall public safety needs," Perrelli added. "Through CTAS and other initiatives, we have sought to take action to respond to tribal leaders and help end the inexcusably high crime rates in tribal communities."

Additionally, COPS Office Director Bernard Melekian, addressed the National Native American Law Enforcement Association's 18th Annual National Training Conference today in Las Vegas. Director Melekian simultaneously announced the CTAS awards to the approximately 400 tribal law enforcement representatives in attendance.

All federally recognized tribes were eligible for CTAS. OJP, COPS, and OVW worked together in making the award decisions. Tribal leaders have been invited to a tribal consultation session on October 5, 2010 in Spokane to discuss ways to improve the Department's grant-making process in future years.

A list of the ten CTAS purpose areas is attached. The complete list of the Fiscal Year 2010 CTAS grantees is available at the Department of Justice's Tribal Justice and Safety Web site - www.tribaljusticeandsafety.gov.

# # #
10-1029

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.

Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Purpose Areas

Tribal Resources Grant Program - Improve public safety and enhance community policing capacity

Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program - Prevent and reduce alcohol and substance abuse-related crimes

Tribal Courts Assistance Program - Develop and enhance the operation of Tribal justice systems

Correctional Facilities on Tribal Lands Program - Plan, renovate or construct correctional and/or correctional alternative facilities

Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program - Provide direct intervention and related assistance to victims of sexual assault

Tribal Governments Program - Tribal Governments Program - TGP - Enhance responses to violence committed against Indian women and girls

Tribal Elder Outreach Program - Provide community outreach and victim assistance services to address elder abuse

Tribal Youth Program - Prevent and control delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system

Tribal Juvenile Accountability Discretionary Program - Enhance accountability for delinquent behavior

Tribal Youth Program - Develop new demonstration projects on violence prevention and rehabilitation

Mary Byron Project Invites Entries of Innovative Domestic Violence Programs

I received this email today:

The Mary Byron Project created the annual Celebrating Solutions Awards program to honor innovative programs that demonstrate promise in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

MBP typically presents four awards of $10,000 each to pioneering programs that can serve as models for the nation. These are awards for accomplishments, not grants for future projects. Recipients are not required to render any further services as a condition of receiving a Celebrating Solutions Award.

To be eligible for the award, a program must address the issue of domestic violence and be part of a U.S. nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status under the Internal revenue Code or a government agency. Both the nominated program and the institution must have been operating for a minimum of three years. The program should be replicable, or, if it is national in scope, should have applications for individual communities, regardless of their size or ethnic population. Organizations operating outside the United States or a U.S. territory are not eligible.

Visit the Mary Byron Project Web site for complete program guidelines and application forms.

Tribal Law and Order Act on the Standing Rock Reservation

OK, so while it's a huge step ahead that the Tribal Law and Order Act has become law, thanks to the efforts of Senator Dorgan, there isn't a direct line between the passage of the law and increased sovereignty in law enforcement on many reservations. The Standing Rock Reservation, where the Pretty Bird Woman House shelter is located, is no exception. Many reservations will have to change their constitutions or judicial systems to accommodate the new law - and it will be all for the better.

According to an article by Jenny Michael in the Bismarck Tribune, the tribe's constitution will have to be changed:

While some tribes would have to make fundamental changes to their court structure in order to implement longer sentences — such as using law-trained attorneys and judges rather than lay people — Standing Rock already has an advanced court system similar to state district courts.

...snip....

Standing Rock public defender Jim Cerny said the possibility of three-year sentences likely would result in the U.S. attorney’s offices leaving more cases in tribal court, resulting in the tribe having more control over crime on the reservation. The sense of paternalism exhibited throughout history by the government toward tribes may be eased by the new law, Cerny speculated.

...snip...

Zuger said another provision of the law would enable federal criminal trials related to reservation crime to be held on reservations.

“Nobody wants to have to go somewhere else to have a case tried,” he said.

Tribal courts and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction over several felonies classified in the Major Crimes Act, including murders and rapes, that occur on reservations. If federal prosecutors decline prosecution in those cases, tribal officials don’t always receive investigative information from federal agencies, making it difficult to prosecute the crimes in tribal court. The Tribal Law and Order Act requires the Department of Justice to file reports to tribal justice officials explaining why cases aren’t being prosecuted federally to coordinate the prosecution of crimes on reservations.

Cerny said most of the criminal cases from the reservation that he defends in federal court are easy cases for the U.S. attorney’s offices. If a case is questionable, they leave the cases in tribal court, he said.

The problem with that, he explained, is that the Federal Bureau of Investigation often investigates crimes that fall under the Major Crimes Act, which are serious crimes such as murder and rape. If the U.S. attorney does not bring federal charges in those cases, federal agencies don’t always share investigatory information with tribal law enforcement and courts.
Standing Rock Chief Prosecutor Grant Walker said declinations are still an “on-going process.” Sometimes, investigations into the same incident have been going on in both the tribal and federal systems without either agency realizing it, he said.

...snip...

The new law also provides resources to enhance cooperation among tribal, state and federal agencies, authorizes tribal police to make arrests for all crimes committed on reservations, provides tribal police more access to national criminal history databases, improves collection of reservation crime data, increases resources for dealing with domestic and sexual violence, increases training opportunities and seeks to increase the pools of potential Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers by upping the age limit from 35 to 46 and expediting background checks for potential peace and correctional officers.

...snip...

(go to the link above to read the entire text of the article).

“I think (the law) is going to make some improvement on our reservation,” Murphy said.

Folks, the shelter needs a new wheelchair ramp

We're going to be kicking off a fundraiser as soon as we get the estimate for the wood cost, but the shelter could use your help now.

When we were doing all those fundraisers last year there was plenty of money for a wheelchair ramp. So, the shelter contracted for one, and most of one was built.

"Most"? Yup. Most. Not only did the contractor leave it incomplete, what he did do was substandard.

Right now there is little recourse but to just build another one. There are at least 2 companies on Standing Rock that are doing shoddy work and going after them isn't always practical when you are busy running a shelter.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but Jackie Brown Otter, the shelter's founder and new director, uses a wheelchair so this is a daily issue for her.

Alternately, if anyone has appropriate wood that they would like to take over to Standing Rock, we my be able to ask someone from Sitting Bull College to build one the right way.

Either way, the shelter could use your donations now. You will see a new donations button on the right to make this easier.

Thank you.

More on the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010

Here's the White House Press Release on this new legislation, which President Obama signed into law on July 29.

The President just signed the Tribal Law and Order Act -- an important step to help the Federal Government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities.

According to a Department of Justice report, Native American women suffer from violent crime at a rate three and a half times greater than the national average. Astoundingly, one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes. At the White House Tribal Nations Conference in November 2009, President Obama stated that this shocking figure "is an assault on our national conscience that we can no longer ignore."

Last week, Congress took another important step to improve the lives of Native American women by passing the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. The Act includes a strong emphasis on decreasing violence against women in Native communities, and is one of many steps this Administration strongly supports to address the challenges faced by Native women.

The stipulations in the Act that will benefit Native women reflect several Administration priorities. The Act will strengthen tribal law enforcement and the ability to prosecute and fight crime more effectively. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act will require that a standardized set of practices be put in place for victims of sexual assault in health facilities. Now, more women will get the care they need, both for healing and to aid in the prosecution of their perpetrators.

Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault will now more often encounter authorities who have been trained to handle such cases. The Act expands training of tribal enforcement officers on the best ways to interview victims of domestic and sexual violence and the importance of collecting evidence to improve rates of conviction. The Director of Indian Health Services will coordinate with the Department of Justice, Tribes, Tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations to develop standardized sexual assault policies and protocols.

Special Assistant US Attorneys will be deputized under the Act to prosecute reservation crimes in Federal courts, and tribes will be given greater authority to hold perpetrators accountable. These provisions help to increase communication between tribal law enforcement, Federal authorities and the court system. As numbers of convictions grow, more women may be willing to report the abuses against them so that their abusers may be prosecuted.

However, the Act focuses not only on prosecution but also on prevention. It reauthorizes and improves programs to prevent and treat alcohol and substance abuse, as well as programs that improve opportunities for at-risk Indian youth. Getting men and boys involved in stopping the violence against women and girls is an important step to ending it everywhere, giving youth a chance to change their own futures.

This Act, combined with the great work that Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice are doing to combat violence in American Indian/Alaska Native communities, is an important step towards our Administration’s priority of ending violence against women and girls, and making Native communities safer and more secure. One in three is a statistic that is intolerable, and the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 will help to change that.

Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women

Tribal Law and Order Act Passes Congress!!

This legislation, which President Obama will sign into law, will make it much easier to catch and convict the perpetrators of violence against women in Indian Country. Thank you to the bill's sponsors as well as the President.

Here is Obama's statement:

For Immediate Release July 21, 2010 Statement by the President on the Passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act
Today's passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act is an important step to help the federal government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities. The fact is, American Indians and Alaska Natives are victimized by violent crime at far higher rates than Americans as a whole. Native communities have seen increased gang and drug activity, with some tribes experiencing violent crime rates at more than ten times the national average. And one in three Native women will be the victim of rape in her lifetime.

The federal government's relationship with tribal governments, its obligations under treaty and law, and our values as a nation require that we do more to improve public safety in tribal communities. And this Act will help us achieve that. It will strengthen the relationship between the federal government and tribal governments. It will improve our ability to work with tribal communities in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and it authorizes resources for tribes to fight crime more effectively. While many members helped pass this bill, I especially want to applaud Senators Dorgan, Barrasso and Kyl, and Representatives Herseth Sandlin, Kildee, Cole, Conyers, Scott, Rahall, Simpson and Pastor for their leadership on this issue. I look forward to signing the Act into law.

For Your Reference

The Native American Communities Justice Project is a great policy paper. Read it when you have a chance by the California Office of the Courts. It's worth a read.

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Review

This was brought to my attention by the Indian Law Resource Center via Cavnet.

From the State Department's Website:

WELCOME to the Department of State’s website for the U.S. review of its position on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Administration recognizes that for many around the world, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a framework for addressing indigenous issues. Tribal leaders and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have recommended that the United States reexamine its position on the Declaration. In response, the Department of State and other Federal agencies will be conducting a review of the Declaration’s provisions.

Consultations with Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Outreach to Interested NGOs

The U.S. Government looks forward to hearing from all interested parties as it undertakes its review of the Declaration. The U.S. Department of State, together with other Federal agencies, will be holding consultations with federally recognized Indian tribes and meetings with interested nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders on the review of the Declaration. Exact dates and locations will be announced on this website. Anyone unable to participate in these consultations or meetings in person can send comments by email to declaration@state.gov or by mail to S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Suite 1317, Washington, DC 20520. Please send written comments by July 15, 2010 to ensure that they can be given due consideration in the review.

The Department of State will update this site with announcements about the review of the UN Declaration.

Rape on the Reservation - Documentary on Rosebud

Unfortunately, Current TV took this video off of their website, and as a blog I only had the link available. My apologies. I am keeping the post up here though due to the comments

There's a documentary film about the problem of rape on Indian Reservations. This one was filmed on the Rosebud Reservation. Here it is, about 44 minutes. I downloaded it from Current TV

DOJ Grant Opportunity for Tribes

In addition to the Coordinated Tribal Solicitation that is currently open, the Department of Justice recently released a Solicitation for its new Children Exposed to Violence Initiative and tribal governments are eligible to apply for this project as well. A key component of the Initiative is a demonstration project, which will be divided into planning and implementation phases. During the planning phase, the Department will fund up to eight sites to develop comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approaches to address the needs of children (ages 0 – 17 ) exposed to violence. Two of the eight sites will be awarded to tribal communities.

For the implementation phase, the Department will fund up to four sites (one of the four demonstration sites will be a tribal community) for the comprehensive delivery of services. During both phases, the sites will receive technical assistance and training. For those initial sites not selected for the implementation phase, the Department plans to make seed grants available. The solicitation for the planning sites was released on March 31, 2010.

All Tribes are encouraged to apply for this particular grant, in addition to applying for the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation.

The application requires the Tribal applicant to collaborate with, among others, tribal nonprofit organizations or community-based organizations with a documented history of effective work concerning children or youth exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including programs that provide culturally specific services.

The deadline for the Children Exposed to Violence grant is June 1, 2010.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the GMS Support Hotline at 1-888-549-9901, option 3, or via e-mail to GMSHelpDesk@ usdoj.gov.

Note: The GMS Support Hotline hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m. to midnight, Eastern Time, except Federal holidays.

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, call Kristen Kracke, Program Specialist, at 202-616-3649 or e-mail her at kristen.kracke@ usdoj.gov.

The solicitation may be viewed at http://ojjdp. ncjrs.gov/ funding/FundingD etail.asp? fi=179

Obama Signs the Indian Health Care Act

Good news from the Obama Administration on Indian Health Care too!

Washington -- The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the cornerstone legal authority for the provision of health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives, was made permanent when President Obama signed the bill, as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The authorization of appropriations for the IHCIA had expired in 2000, and while various versions of the bill were considered by Congress since then, the act now has no expiration date.

snip

The version of the IHCIA signed into law on Tuesday differs in several respects from the original version passed by Congress in 1976. It includes many major changes and improvements to facilitate the delivery of health care services, such as:

The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 1.9 million of the nation's estimated 3.3 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The full story is available at the Springfield News Leader