MMIWG

The 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act: A Space for Celebration, Learning, Support & Growth

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 23:32:57 +0000

The 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act: A Space for Celebration, Learning, Support & Growth

spesweviwridri… (not verified) April 25, 2022

AIPI Blog

The 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act: A Space for Celebration, Learning, Support & Growth

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) closely follows public policy analysis and research surrounding the systemic violence suffered by Indigenous women. In recognition of SAAM, AIPI would like to take some time and space to discuss the recent 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and its projected effect on Indigenous communities. The reauthorization of VAWA reaffirmed the critical legislative focus on the domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking faced by Indigenous women in the United States. In a constant effort to destigmatize the disproportionate representation of violence against Indigenous women, this blog aims to create a safe space for acquiring knowledge, awareness, and attention to urgent concerns regarding Indigenous women’s safety and ability to fully flourish as invaluable members of their communities.

In the United States, sexual victimization among Indigenous women is a direct product of the long-standing colonization and genocide of Indigenous peoples. Resistance and redress of this victimization through cultural and legal resources are of utmost importance. The 2022 reauthorization of VAWA assists in the ability to achieve this. Indigenous communities have long advocated for sovereignty over their own lawmaking. Personal experiences and adept knowledge are critical in confronting community-specific concerns accurately. The reauthorization’s Tribal Title language and content of the writing was led by the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs and included Indigenous women and advocates who worked collectively to ensure that such experiences and knowledge went into the reauthorization process. There were more than a few major achievements within the reauthorization. Listed below are only a select few:

The 2022 VAWA reauthorization Tribal Title –

Maintains special Tribal criminal jurisdiction (STCJ) over crimes of dating violence, domestic violence, and violations of Tribal civil protection orders first put in place by the 2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization;
Restores STCJ over crimes related to child violence, sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking, obstruction of justice, and assault of Tribal justice personnel;
Removes the existing requirement under VAWA 2013, which limits tribal jurisdiction to those non-Indians who live or work in the Indian country of the tribe or are in a qualifying relationship with a member of the tribe or non-member Indian resident (often referred to as the “substantial ties” provision);
Ensures Indian Tribes in Alaska and Maine are able to exercise STCJ and keep their communities safe; and
Provides Indian Tribes with improved access to critical STCJ resources by—
- Increasing the authorization level of the VAWA Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction implementation grant program from $5 million per fiscal year to $25 million per fiscal year,
- Expanding the VAWA Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction implementation grant program to cover Tribes’ reimbursements costs,
- Reestablishing the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program, and
- Codifying the Department of Justice’s Tribal Access Program to provide Tribes with access to national criminal information databases.

As Indian Country celebrates the steps being taken by the VAWA 2022 reauthorization, it remains important to continuously consider further steps to be taken to combat violence against Indigenous women and Indigenous communities as a whole. There must not be an interruption of the important dialogue on what exploits Indigenous peoples and their exposure to violence. Examination of ever-changing social dynamics in relation to topics such as property crimes, cyber-violence, financial abuse, elder abuse, and violence against all gender identities will be critical as this fight continues.

As Indigenous peoples, we must continue to challenge the factors which seek to exploit us, as we have done for time immemorial.

For other VAWA 2022 resources, please review:

Section by Section Summary of VAWA 2022 Tribal Provisions by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Inter-Tribal Working Group Summary of VAWA 2022 Tribal Provisions
Redlined version of VAWA 2022 Tribal Jurisdiction Provisions
Clean Version of revised tribal jurisdiction provisions as of October 1, 2022
NCAI Tribal VAWA Resources

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking, please visit the following resources:

https://strongheartshelpline.org/get-help (culturally grounded)
https://www.niwrc.org/hotlines-victims-and-survivors (culturally grounded)
https://www.rainn.org/resources

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April 25, 2022

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The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 23:28:00 +0000

The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

spesweviwridri… (not verified) November 18, 2021

AIPI Blog

The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

During this year's Native American Heritage Month, Tribal leaders and high-level White House Officials constructed discourse with respect to issues important in Indian Country. The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit (the Summit), hosted by the White House, was held on November 15th and 16th. This is the first time the Summit has taken place since 2016. The Summit presented a unique opportunity for nation-to-nation dialogue on support to Tribal communities to create opportunities, advance equity, and address new and long-standing challenges. Topics addressed included Infrastructure, Native languages, climate change and COVID-19. Several members of the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) attended the Summit.

The Summit commenced by releasing the “White House Tribal Nations Summit Progress Report.” The 38-page document outlined key contributions made by the Biden-Harris Administration to Indian Country. In addition, a shorter fact sheet was also released titled “Building a New Era of Nation-Nation Engagement.” This fact sheet includes reports on progress made in Indian Country during the Biden-Harris Administration as well as present plans for continuing improvement of nation-to-nation relationships.

The first day of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit was inspiring and spirited. Welcoming remarks included engaging addresses from Secretary Deb Haaland, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. During his live remarks, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. While signing the Executive Order, President Biden proclaimed: “I am proud to sign it. It is long overdue.”

Read the Full Executive Order, Here.

After the opening remarks, policy panels spoke on combating COVID-19, Native American Educations and Languages, Public Safety and Justice. Each panel featured dialouge between Tribal leaders and high-level White House Officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Officer to the President, Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education.

Highlights of day one of the Summit include announcements of several initiatives:

Watch the Full Recording of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Day One, Here.

Day two of the Summit carried the momentum from day one. Opening remarks were provided by White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Rodriguez. Following opening remarks, four policy panels and one listening session were held. Panel topics were climate change, Tribal treaty rights, economic and workforce development and infrastructure were led by a myriad of Tribal leaders and members of the Administration. White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Secretary Marty Walsh of the US Department of Labor and Secretary Pete Buttigieg of the US Department of Transportation were among those present.

Highlights from day two of the Summit include:

Creation of First Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee at the Department of the Interior
A Focus on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Broadband Funding
- See AIPI’s policy analysis on broadband and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
New Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding to Protect Indigenous Sacred Sites

Two heartening segments concluded of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit. First, attendees of the Summit had the pleasure of watching a performance from the first Native American U.S. poet laureate, Joy Harjo. Harjo read her piece “Eagle Poem”. Second and finally, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Tribal leaders and those in attendance. Vice President Harris touched on some of the essential topics of the Summit including the significance of adequate broadband funding to Tribal communities to increase digital equity and fighting against the impediments facing Native Americans and their right to vote. She also reaffirmed the importance of the commitment the Biden-Harris Administration has to Indian Country.

Watch Vice President Harris’ Address, Here.

Watch the Full Recording of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Day Two, Here.

In light of the recent events of COVID-19 and the spotlight on racial inequities across marginalized communities, the importance of informed and open dialogue is paramount. Opportunities such as the Tribal Nations Summit are key in constructing modern-era nation-to-nation relationships and continuing the bolstering of such dialogue. The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit was certainly an appropriate event to occur during Native American Heritage Month. The conversations and initiatives introduced during the Summit will affect Native American communities and ultimately, Native American heritage for generations to come.

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November 18, 2021

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Why We Wear Red

tlmorri3 — Tue, 05 May 2020 23:38:00 +0000

Why We Wear Red

tlmorri3 May 5, 2020

AIPI Blog

Why We Wear Red

Today is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Day of Awareness. You may have seen the hashtags: #MMIWG #WhyWeWearRed #NoMoreStolenSisters #NotInvisible You may have seen your colleagues posting pictures of themselves wearing red or with a red hand-print on their faces. We do this because we can’t march to show our solidarity. We do this to bring attention to the injustices indigenous women continue to experience in the 21st Century.

As tribal nations continue to wait for federal aid set aside for them over a month ago, we are seeing tribal members dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than people in other populations. Not only that, we see that they may enter a hospital Indigenous but all too often when they leave (no matter how they leave) they are classified as white or Latinx, but not Indigenous. The same thing happens in cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In the era of big data, Indigenous people are being erased. In the era of big data, we do not exist. This has been called a modern-day genocide.

So, today we are messengers. We lift our voices and say No More! We are here to share information and be a part of the solution. Join us. Take the time to learn about these issues. Help us stop the data erasure of Indigenous people.

Here’s a video that encapsulates Arizona’s response to the issue of MMIWG in a Q&A hosted by the ASU Law School Academy for Justice. ASU has a team of folks working on MMIWG issues, including a study being conducted out of ASU’s Research on Violent Victimization Lab in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

See also the Urban Indian Health Institute’s newly published Best Practices for American Indian and Alaska Native Data Collection and the 2019 MMIWG: We Demand More report addressing the data deficiencies. They are excellent follow-ups to the highly regarded 2018 study: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: A Snapshot of Data from 71 Urban Cities in the United States.

Thank you for reading and taking time out of your day to honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Share this and let us together #BeTheSolution.