By Emely Abreu '21
Native Americans have been systematically oppressed for centuries. They have been pushed off their lands, forced to live on reservations with inadequate funding or resources, and have experienced poverty, assault, discrimination, and much more. More specifically, Native women have suffered tremendously as they are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual assault than any other ethnic group in the United States.
Here are some staggering statistics:
According to the National Violence Against Women Sruvey, 37.5% of Native American women are vicitimized by partner violence in their lifetime.
Native Americans who are survivors of family violence are more likely to be injured and need hospital care, more than any other race.
1 in 3 Indigenous women report rape, compared to the 1 in 5 nationally.
More than half of Natives will experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
Sarah Deer, a professor at the University of Kansas and the author of “The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America,” said, “Native women have told me that what you do when you raise a daughter in this environment is you prepare her for what to do when she’s raped -- not if, but when.” The fact that these women, these young girls, have to “prepare” themselves for the possibility that they can be sexually assaulted is disgusting, and it is something that should not be happening. Indigenous women should be focused on going to school or helping their families, not on whether someone will take advantage of them. And what makes matters even worse is that most Native women do not receive justice and are left trapped in small communities with their abusers. This pattern and a broken legal system only add to their trauma.
Here is another awful fact that prevents women from receiving the justice they deserve: “Tribal courts face major restrictions, including a one-year limit on sentences regardless of the crime and almost no jurisdiction over non-Indians.” This rule was changed in 2010, meaning the sentencing cap was expanded to three years per offense, but only sixteen tribes have implemented this update, which is not enough to produce widespread change.
How can you help make a difference?
Natives have suffered so much at the hands of the US government, and they continue to do so. This is why it is important to educate yourself on the issues that Native Americans are forced to deal with on a daily basis. Explore resources or organizations that support Natives, like groups that focus on raising awareness for women who have been sexually assaulted, and help break the cycle of abuse. It is time for us to stop ignoring Indigenous peoples, and instead use our privilege to empower them.
Some resources to learn about this issue and make a difference:
Indian Law Resources: https://indianlaw.org/issue/ending-violence-against-native-women
Tribal Organizations to Support: https://vawnet.org/sc/tribal-organizations
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center: https://www.niwrc.org/donate
Editors: Ms. Brilliant and Cecilia Fiorindo
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