Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Sexual Assault Awareness Conference Held at Red Lake

In what organizers hope will be but the first of many Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Conferences, scores of attendees registered for the two and a half day event at Seven Clans Casino and Events Center at Red Lake. The gathering was held on Wednesday through Friday, April 11-13, 2012. The conference was sponsored by Equay Wiigamig (Women's Shelter) of Red Lake.

The theme of the conference was "Ganawenindizon da-gina'amaagemagak maji-doodawind bemaadizid." (“Protect your spirit, stand against sexual violence.”) Speakers included Vednita Carter & Joy Friedman of Breaking Free, and Robin Charboneau of Spirit Lake.

The conference was free to all, and attended by social workers from several communities both on and off reservation who work with or are interested in this important subject matter.

Day One Wednesday

Registration began a 8 a.m. At 9 a.m., after a welcoming, a prayer was offered by Spiritual Elder Larry Stillday which was followed by a drum song by Black Bear Crossing.

The day consisted mostly of lengthy key-note speeches from two speakers from Breaking Free, Inc. with a luncheon between sessions. The morning session was provided by Vednita Carter, Founder and Executive Director of Breaking Free, and the afternoon session was conducted by Joy Friedman, a survivor and Women's Program Manager with Breaking Free.

The Breaking Free mission is to educate and provide services to women and girls who have been victims of abuse and commercial sexual exploitation (prostitution/sex trafficking) and need assistance escaping the violence in their lives.

Breaking Free was established in October 1996, by Director Carter, as a non-profit organization serving women and girls involved in systems of abuse, exploitation, and prostitution/sex trafficking. "It is estimated that as many as 85% of sex-trafficking victims have been molested and/or sold before the age of 18," she said.

Carter explained the groups philosophy: "We understand sex trafficking as a vicious cycle of violence, abuse, incarceration, and addiction. We understand that repeated experiences of violence undermines women and girls capacities to avoid further victimization. Sexual exploitation distorts the lives of women and girls, destroys families, and communities," she said.

The Organizational Goals of Breaking Free were also discussed by Carter. They included:

•To expose prostitution/sex trafficking as violence against women

•To provide supportive services and education to exploited/trafficked women and girls to help them escape the cycle

•To operate within a culturally appropriate, age and gender-specific context

•To provide transitional and/or permanent housing and rental/placement assistance to our target population

•To educate the community about the effects of commercial sexual exploitation on women and girls

Friedman talked about human trafficking. "The UN Estimates that 27 million people are enslaved worldwide. That is more than at any other time in history. Statistics show that 80% of victims are female, of which, 50% are children. The average age of entry into commercial sex in this country is 12-14 years," old," she said.

Human Trafficking is the fastest growing black market crime on the planet (second only to drug dealing) and generating an estimated $32 billion dollars per year. "Females are typically sold for the purpose of sex," said Friedman. "Domestic victims report being forced to service as many as 10 men per day on average while international victims report as many as 40 per day."

And Minnesota is no exemption, it is ranked as one of the top 13 states in the nation for highest incidence in recruitment of minors. "In 2010," says Friedman, "the on-line sales of minor girls being sold in Minnesota increased by 55% over a six month period. When asked, 89% of women and girls used in prostitution wanted to get out but didn’t know where to turn for help. That's why we're here," said Friedman, "to help."

Internal Statistics: Facts About the Women and Girls in the Breaking Free Program.

• 85% are victims of rape/molestation before the age of 18

• 95% use drugs/alcohol to numb the pain

• 83% are victims of assault with a deadly weapon

• 57% have been kidnapped at some point

• 60-90% are without safe housing

• 100% are someone’s daughter, sister, and/or mother

Equay Wiigamig staff presented some stark statistics of Sexual Assault in Indian Country in a handout.

• Over 70% of sexual assaults are not reported.

• The rate of violent crime in Indian Country is 2.5% greater.

• A National Violence Against Women survey indicated a 15.9% victimization rate of American Indians/Alaska Natives by and intimate partner.

• 90% of American Indian women in chemical dependency treatment programs have experienced some type of sexual assault/abuse.

• One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

• One in four girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18.

• One in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.

• 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.

At three o'clock a much needed break from the intense presentations, was followed by a question and answer period and wrap-up. The day ended at 4 p.m.

Day Two Thursday

Beginning at 9 a.m., the morning was taken up with a personal story by Robin Charboneau – Member of Spirit Lake Nation, North Dakota with a break around 10:30. Charboneau spoke about recovering from sexual abuse, domestic violence, and chemical dependency. She told a sobering story that began with being sexually abused as a small child.

"What I will be sharing with you today is intense," began Charboneau. "I speak out about recovery. I will be touching your heart and core to help you to find who you are. I may trigger emotions deep within you. If you feel overwhelmed any time during my presentation today please feel free to take care of yourself by leaving. If you feel overwhelmed tonight still then please call the crisis line and talk with an advocate."

After lunch beginning about 1:00 p.m., a presentation was begin by Guadalupe Lopez of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) and a member of the Leech Lake Ojibwe. Lopez has been the Membership and Outreach Coordinator for nearly two years for MIWSAC, and is also a Volunteer Sexual Assault Advocate for Sexual Offense Services in Ramsey County and Okiciyapi in Granite Falls. Prior to her employment with MIWSAC, she worked for Women of Nations in Saint Paul, advocating on behalf of battered women.

Lopez' presentation was entitled "Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota." Based on personal interviews and stories of 105 Native women in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Bemidji, Lopez said "this is first-ever study of prostitution and trafficking of Native women in Minnesota to be released by the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) and Prostitution Research & Education."

Activities for the rest of the afternoon, centered on the rights of Crime Victims, and a report on the Red Lake Sex Offender Registry.

Day Three Friday

A half day on Friday included a wonderful breakfast, followed by Red Lake Women's Advocate Victoria Fineday who presented some hope with her presentation "Steps to Healing." A wrap-up followed from 11 until noon.

The event was sponsored by Equay Wiigamig (Women’s Shelter), Red Lake, MN. The project was supported by a grant awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U. S. Department of Justice.

"Among the Indians there have been no written laws. Customs handed down from generation to generation have been the only laws to guide them. Everyone might act different from what might be considered right did he choose to do so, but such acts would bring upon him the censure of the nation…This fear of the Nation's censure acted as a mighty band, binding all in one social, honorable compact." ~George Copway (Kah-ge-go-gah-bowh) 1818-1863, Ojibwe Chief

 

Reader Comments(0)