Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
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How Advocates Help In the field of domestic and sexual violence, an advocate's work bridges the gap between a victim-survivor and service providers. They help their contacts recognize abuse, assess the risk of danger and to plan for safety. They offer peer support, crisis intervention and assistance locating resources. Ultimately, the work of an advocate can be lifesaving. The Impact and Vicarious Trauma Advocacy may sound like a rewarding job because saving lives is undeniably an honorable...
As a helpline dedicated to serving Native Americans and Alaska Natives impacted by domestic, dating and sexual violence, StrongHearts Native Helpline honors our relatives and communities impacted by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) and those working to end this crisis. StrongHearts understands the issues of MMIR are related to domestic, dating and sexual violence. We know that missing and murdered victims can be children, elders, Two-Spirit, men and those with disabilities. This...
Sexual violence is a far too common thing throughout Native communities. According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Native Americans are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual violence in their lifetime. As we know, this may be even higher due to the lack of reporting common in Native communities. Sexual violence is any type of sexual activity done without consent. We often don't know when someone is struggling with something. Sexual violence is no exception. If you...
In February, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month raises awareness for the unique needs Indigenous youth have and the impact healthy relationships can have for Native communities moving forward. While one-quarter of all high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse, a 1992 Minnesota youth study found that 92% of American Indian girls who reported having sexual intercourse have been forced against their will. Native American youth from 10-24 years old also make up 64% of...
Through colonization Native American cultures, languages, lands and lives were all systematically and forcibly taken. The histories of Native peoples should never be forgotten and that's why it's vital that we remember and share our histories not only in November but also all year. Beginning in 1990, U.S. presidents have issued executive orders declaring November as National Native American Heritage Month. Proclamations have called for governments, groups, organizations and people across the...
In Indian Country, the abusive tactics of domestic violence have their roots in colonization. Maintaining power and control of one's intimate partner(s) is the objective of the abuser. The abuse can physically harm, arouse fear, prevent a person from acting freely, or force them to behave in ways they do not want. Victim-survivors may feel confused, afraid, angry and/or trapped. They may blame themselves for what is happening. A victim-survivor can develop mental health issues like depression...
It has been a long time coming, but you've made up your mind. It's time to escape a life of domestic and sexual violence and leave an abusive partner. You're scared and for good reason. Danger increases when leaving an abusive partner because they often lash out to regain control over their partner. It is imperative that you carefully navigate the following process. You are the best judge of your own safety. Consider a safety plan - a personalized, practical plan that includes ways to remain saf...
Be aware that in an abusive relationship, violence is used as a tactic for the abuser to maintain power and control over the victim-survivor. The violence will continue and may escalate in intensity and frequency. Safety planning is an individualized process where a practical plan is created that includes ways to remain safe while in an abusive relationship. An advocate can help you produce a plan and discuss your options with you. If a violent encounter seems imminent and unavoidable, there...
For far too long, Indian country has pleaded for ways to address the critical issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. StrongHearts Native Helpline understands that MMIW is often intertwined with domestic, dating, sexual violence. When an Indigenous woman goes missing or is found murdered, her story rarely gets the full attention of law enforcement, media or the public. As a result, those cases are not fully investigated and remain unsolved. Cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women...
What is sexual coercion? Sexual coercion is the practice of persuading someone to engage in unwanted sexual activity by using force, intimidation or threats. Anyone can use sexual coercion; however it is likely that it will happen with someone you already have some type of relationship with like a partner, friend or date. Consent is not given if your sexual partner(s) feel pressured, intimidated and/or threatened, therefore sexual coercion is sexual violence. Tactics of sexual coercion Sexual...
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In recognition of Native American leadership in the field of domestic and sexual violence, StrongHearts Native Helpline is honored to present its featured leader, Sarah Deer, J.D., a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma. She is currently a University Distinguished Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and School of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Kansas, and Chief Justice for the Prairie Island Indian Commun...
In recognition of Native American leadership in the field of domestic and sexual violence, StrongHearts Native Helpline is presenting a series of columns featuring individuals making a difference in Indian Country. We begin the series with our leader, Lori Jump (Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa), director of StrongHearts Native Helpline. Core Native American Values As the Director of StrongHearts Native Helpline, Lori Jump has more than 30 years of experience working in the field of domestic and sexual...
Native American Elders A Native American is usually considered an elder when they are above the age of 60 to 65, although it varies from tribe to tribe. In our Native communities, we are taught to respect our elders. We honor them at ceremony, community gatherings, and pow wows. Their presence is considered to be an honor. We depend on them for wisdom and guidance gleaned from their years of experience. They are invaluable to us. Yet, they can still be victims of domestic violence. Abuse can hap...
Every October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), advocates and communities across Indian Country and the United States rally together to honor survivors of domestic violence and support abuse prevention. In 2020, StrongHearts Native Helpline once again calls on advocates, tribal leaders, reservation and urban Indian community members, service providers and Native organizations to support the movement to prevent and end domestic violence, which disproportionately affects millions...
Although StrongHearts Native Helpline does not have an established volunteer program at this time, we recommend the following: If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship: ● Help them become aware of services and programs that are available to help them: StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483 or chat now at strongheartshelpline.org, 7 am - 10 pm CT Daily. You are also welcome to call and discuss ways you can support your loved one. The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-79...
The parallels that can be drawn between colonialism and domestic violence can be seen through their definitions and through a review of Native American history. Having lived through genocide and horrific suffering, the aftermath of European contact and colonization continues to not only haunt Native Americans, it wreaks havoc in their everyday lives. Colonization is the act of domination involving the subjugation of one people to another. It's the practice of gaining full or partial control...
When StrongHearts Native Helpline was formed, the organization underwent a process to choose a Native American logo that could represent the virtues of strength, resilience, empathy and protection. Several logos were designed but one particular logo made sense. The turtle was chosen because of its association with Mother Earth and Story of Creation. Story of Creation Native American stories of creation are varied, but one version resonated with StrongHearts. It was a story about a woman who was...
The outbreak of coronavirus earlier this year left many mental health professionals concerned that stay-at-home orders and other safety measures designed to protect citizens from the pandemic could cause an increase in mental health issues. Unfortunately, mental health disorders and access to mental health care has been an ongoing struggle for Native Americans. With the additional mental drain resulting from the virus' spread, it's important now more than ever to support our relatives by...
Supreme Court of the Land Legal experts are calling McGirt v. Oklahoma (McGirt) the most significant Federal Indian Law case of the century. On July 9, the Supreme Court's McGirt decision upheld the treaty affirmed reservation borders of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The ruling upended previously held legal opinions that jurisdiction over major crimes transferred from federal courts to state courts. Further, that jurisdiction in fact belongs to a federal or tribal court. "This ruling is critical...
There are a lot of commonly held beliefs about domestic violence that can harm victims and keep people from seeking help. StrongHearts Native Helpline unravels some of the myths surrounding domestic violence and sheds light into the darkness of intimate partner violence (IPV). Domestic Violence is a private family matter - Fiction When domestic violence becomes rampant in any community, it is no longer just a family matter. Using violence and coercion against an intimate partner is a violation...
Answering the call to action, StrongHearts Native Helpline has become a trusted resource for Native Americans impacted by domestic violence. In just over three years, hours of operation have been extended, call volume increased, chat advocacy was launched and the numbers are stacking up. Hitting the mark and reaching every milestone with determination and dedication, StrongHearts has received 8,569 calls and chats to date. Of those calls, 5,173 were received in 2019 alone. Marking a gargantuan...
Men can be victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence can happen to anyone. Media and socialization may lead you to believe otherwise but the truth is men, and people of all genders, can be and are victims of domestic violence. Abuse against men can start at a very young age and the effect carries on with them into adulthood. When it comes to sexual violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, men who reported abuse have indicated that not only were they sexually assaulted both as a...
If it's not safe to call (1-844-762-8483), StrongHearts Native Helpline's new online chat advocacy sessions might be a better option. Users receive one-on-one, real-time, confidential information from a trained advocate. Visit https://www.strongheartshelpline.org/ to get started. Unfortunately, StrongHearts Native Helpline is not able to provide internet-based services to people younger than 13. While our chat advocacy is not available to people 12 and younger, our phone services are available...
It has been said that red is a color that transcends the physical world and calls to the ancestors in the spirit world. For ceremony and pow-wow, Native Americans dressed their children in red as an introduction to the ancestors - calling upon them as guardians to the young. However, the color red had other uses and symbolic meanings that differ among Indigenous tribes in North America. It has been used by the young warrior painting his face and his horse and it has also been used to beautify...
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. There is a broad spectrum of studies and statistics that attempt to explain why even today sexual assault continues to be a threat to society, not just to women, but to all people. In looking at the issue, every gender, every race and at every age, the threat of sexual violence exists every minute of every day. Around the world, Indigenous peoples have been and still are being victimized by predominant civilizations. Beginning with colonization, Native...
