Michelle Moquin's "A day in the life of…"

Good morning. 

Kushala:  Your comment was shocking to me. I knew nothing of the plight of Indian women living on reservations, so I decided to do a little research to see what I could find. And what I found was even more upsetting to me than what you had posted.

Indian women are abused and raped more than any other race in the United States. (Note: There are fewer Indian women, but the percentage is the highest.) Well, I can’t even really say “…in the United States”, because reservations are sovereign states but within the U.S. And basically their justice system sucks. Women are raped every weekend if not more, and nothing is being done against the perpetrators.

The abuse is so prevalent that it has become “normal”. And many times, once again the women, the victims are the ones being blamed. If they decide to talk…if they decide to prosecute their perpetrator(s), they have to deal with the families and friends of the perpetrators who come after them, harass them, and yes, even abuse them further. Sound familiar? Women are too frightened to talk and because men and boys rarely get prosecuted, the women just continue to stay silent.

Rape is an epidemic throughout Indian reservations.

In Indian Country – It Could be Your Mother, Sister, Aunt or Daughter

Where is the outrage? 

In the last week, Mel Gibson’s talent agent released him after records of domestic violence surfaced concerning his relationship with his girlfriend. In the last year pop singer, Chris Brown was publicly ostracized after an episode of violent behavior toward his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna. Rihanna appeared on 60 Minutes, the popular television news show to discuss the whole incident in detail some months afterward. What you won’t hear on the news, is how each year millions of American Indian/Native American women are abused physically and/or emotionally with little to no means of escape. Every hour of every day, one American Indian/Native American woman is the victim of a physical or sexual assault in the United States. Chances are someone you know – your mother, sister, friend, co-worker, or neighbor – is a victim of violence.

American Indians, in general, experience per capita rates of violence that are much higher than those of the general population.  In particular, the rate of aggravated assault among American Indians and Alaska Natives is roughly twice that of the country as a whole (600.2 per 100,000 versus 323.6 per 100,000). Victimization statistics indicate similar findings.  According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department of Justice, 70% of American Indians who are the victims of violent crimes are victimized by someone of a different race, usually African American or white.   Because of these high rates of violence, American Indian women are at high risk of violence domestic or otherwise.

The term violence against women applies to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, whether by an intimate partner, family member or a stranger. Violence against women is a major problem for Native women wherever they are, including on reservations or Indian communities.  1 out of 3 American Indian and Alaskan Native women are raped in their lifetime, compared with about one out of five women in the overall national statistic.  American Indian and Alaska Native women experience sexual assaults per 1000 per year compared to 3 per 1000 among Black Americans, 2 per 1000 among Caucasians and 1 per 1000 among Asian Americans. American Indians were victimized by an intimate at rates higher than those for all other females – 23 American Indians per 1,000 persons age 12 or older compared to 11 blacks, 8 whites, and 2 Asians.

These statistics, however, are general and do not pertain particularly to violence against Native women on reservations or under tribal jurisdiction (i.e. – in Indian Country). Accurate statistical data on violence against women in Indian country is hard to come by.  There is in fact no comprehensive data on violence against women under tribal jurisdiction, since no federal or Indian agency/organization systematically collects this information. In general, data on crime in Indian country is poor, partly due to underreporting of crimes to the tribal authorities and partly due to underreporting to the federal authorities.   For reasons discussed further in this article, reporting to federal authorities is useless.

Why?

Battering is a learned behavior, not a mental illness. The abusers’ experiences as children and the messages they get from society in general, tell them that violence is an effective way to achieve power and control over their partners’ behaviors.    Why and how did it become such a problem in Indian Country now?

Traditionally, American Indian/Native American men did not abuse or subject their women to violence in any way. In many tribes, women’s status is upheld in society as the life givers and the person holding the sacred right of giving birth.   Woman may have held the place as leaders and teachers of the tribe. Philip Deere, Mvskoke (Creek) said, “Women are the backbone of our traditions.”   Pre-contact and even as little as 200 years ago, Native American/American Indian societies did not tolerate men that abused women in a violent manner.   Women who were victims of abuse or violence at the hands of a male, had immediate retribution by the hands of the community.    The justice system of the community worked to keep the female safe and discourage men from that type of behavior.

However, when the colonization process shattered communities, families torn apart and tribes made to choose between their way of life and just living; that is when the process of devaluing women began.  We often hear of intergenerational trauma, it is believable that the violence perpetrated against women is a result of that trauma.  Perhaps the trauma American Indian males suffered by having their manhood stripped away and made to live in ways foreign to them, they could not hunt and provide for their families any longer, snowballed into where we are today. Boarding schools and the loss of traditions, spirituality, customs and culture, are all traumatic events that have the trickle down effect of creating inner rage.  As said, battering and violence is a learned behavior, most abusers were abused as children themselves or witnessed it firsthand.

Further traumatizing are the legislation pieces in place that designate crimes in Indian Country within the jurisdiction of the federal courts. The Indian Country Crime Act, enacted in 1817, made non-Indians committing crimes against Indians in Indian Country subject to federal prosecution. Then the Major Crimes Act was passed by the US Congress in 1885 which grants federal courts criminal jurisdiction over Indians who commit any of the designated offenses (violent crime, abuse, rape and murder among others).   In practicality the US Government DOJ chooses to prosecute only about 10 to 15% of all crimes committed in Indian Country under either of these Acts.  That means 85 to 90 % of all violent crimes in Indian Country are not prosecuted. The Department of Justice who is responsible cites a lack of resources and funding.   This has created a huge loophole for lawlessness and hopelessness in Indian Country and women residing in Indian Country. What we are experiencing is the result of males who know there is no punishment for doing vile abusive acts to women or anyone who is weaker than they.

The American Indian/Native American was moved to lands designated as Indian Country, isolated from the rest of the world, then left to cope with the major trauma inflicted upon them from colonization. Lawlessness and abusive behavior is now institutionalized; all who live within the boundaries know there is no justice for those victimized. It is a classic example of the strong preying on the weak. Reporting a crime to federal authorities subjects the victim to more abuse, retaliation and ostracizing by the community. When the victim has no support from legal means and then faces the very real possibility of more abuse, the chances of reporting crimes against their person are slim to none.

What?

What can someone do to help rectify this terrible situation and help protect our sacred sister, mother, aunt, cousin, or daughter?    Get outraged!

There is no evidence to suggest battered women fit a particular personality profile. Being a victim of abuse is due to the behaviors of the batterer not the personal characteristic of the victim. Violence robs victims of the fundamental right to maintain control over their own lives. Women who are abused live in fear and isolation; they struggle to find the courage and strength to get out and away from the abuser. Society’s lack of understanding about the dynamics of domestic violence is often the greatest obstacle a battered woman faces in her efforts to end the violence. Support and encouragement can be of tremendous value to someone in a violent relationship. Just listening and being there to provide resources is another way to help someone in a violent relationship.   It is ludicrous that there are 3 animal shelters to every 1 women’s shelter in each state in the United States.  People value dogs and cats more than women?

In March 2008, the Department of Justice set up a Task Force to address the Violence Against Women in Indian Country. According to their website, the Attorney General will submit a report on the program’s findings and recommendations to the United States Committee on Indian Affairs, and to the United States House and Senate Judiciary Committees within two years after the enactment of Title IX.  Contact the members on this Task Force (http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/siw-s904ttf.htm) ask them where is the report, what action is going to take place to address the violence Native women are subjected to on a daily basis.

Contact your federal legislators, tell them to change the Major Crimes Act, either amend it to include funding or tribal jurisdiction, or to do away with it completely. Support Senator Dorgan’s Tribal Law and Order Act, ask your federal officials to put aside politics and pass this important piece of legislation for the protection of our American Indian/Native American women.

Let your tribal leaders and community leaders know, this is a serious problem that only the members of the community can fix. Grassroots efforts to address the violence in Indian Country have had little support from tribal governments in general.   Treat your women well, live by example, remember battering and violence is a learned behavior. It may very well be that returning to the traditional ways of the tribal community coming together to stop the cycle of violence against women is the key.

Readers: I strongly urge you to watch this 44 minute video from Current TV, “Rape On The Reservation”. The illumination of this subject is distressing and needs to be told. Although most of the men and boys…”the perpetrators” have been abused themselves, I am not giving them any excuse for their actions. This vicious cycle is passed down from the parents to the children and continues.

Before whites killed off millions of American Indians, rape was not “normal” behavior within the tribes. It was rare. And if a woman was raped, she was the victim and protected, not blamed.  Like I said, I am not giving an excuse to the men and boys for their present behavior, however, I do want to say that we as a society have to recognize the part that we have played in the destruction of the American Indian, which has lead to the present day situation on the reservations across our country, and take some responsibility for our horrific actions that have left the American Indian in the state they presently reside.

I want to thank Kushala for bringing this to my attention. I wish it was not so, but wishing it away does not make it go away. Once again, people need to know that this is happening to our women in this country. Perhaps this will be new news to someone reading…someone who will take strong action and support these women.

Zen Lill: I agree with you about liars – I wish this was a one time shot but their mental illness takes over their rational judgement over and over again as we continue to witness.

With respect to “labeling” – even if you hate it, we all do it. We as a society label people all the time with “good” labels. And it’s easy to do so, yet no one says much about the good stuff. I think the “lying sack of shit” label deserves just as much attention, and really more, if only for the reason that a “positive” label usually only affects the one being labeled (It’s a good “ego” boost on the receiving end),  and the ”negative” label usually affects others who bear the brunt of their “lying sack of shit” ways. Yes, it affects the receiver too – but who cares – the receiver is lying, and in my opinion deserves the recognition and the title.

Dawn, Quendrese: Thanks. I’m diggin’ it as well. And yes like Clyde stated,  ”…could do a republican a day under the Lying Sacks of Shit title and still not cover that bastion of shit.”  So true.

Howie: I found your story about 1815-1816 fascinating along with all my other readers. I appreciate that you are here not only for sharing your celestial surprises that everyone looks forward to…but for the privilege that we are always the first to know.  You are a huge reason why many of my readers are here, so thank you.

Ito: I know that your question was addressed to /7t3, but c’mon the answer is obvious: Stop polluting your oceans. There are alien beings living there who don’t appreciate their living area being the dumping grounds for your radioactive trash.

Ym: I HOPE that turns around for you, and you get some lovin’.

I HOPE everybody gets a lot of lovin’ in 2012…and beyond.

Peace & Love: “Live it, Give it”

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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