Dear Friends,

It is with a tremendously heavy heart that I must announce to you that Pretty Bird Woman House's first director, Georgia Little Shield, whose dedication to getting it off the ground is responsible for the shelter's existence today, died on Tuesday.

If it weren't for Georgia's stubborn dedication to Pretty Bird Woman House, which meant doing a lot of work with crazy Netroots bloggers like me, the shelter would not exist right now. Seriously.

We raised enough money under Georgia's guidance to buy the building housing the shelter today. She was an excellent director, but unfortunately health concerns forced her to retire early.

Never one to sit around knowing she could help her community, Georgia formed a non-profit food pantry and future youth development program on the Cheyenne River Reservation last year, Okiciyap (we help) the Isabel Community. Again, with the help of bloggers, who were inspired by her fierce dedication to her community, we raised enough money to get a trailer that the Tribe had donated into place, skirt it, build a wheelchair ramp, and get a couple of deliveries of food to distribute. Over 100 families were helped within the past couple of months. That is Georgia's legacy to her community.

Georgia's other legacy was her love for her family.  A couple of years ago she adopted two of her husband's neices after their mother died.  Georgia was very proud of the youngest one Crystal, who lived with them. She was also always talking about her daughter and grandchildren and how much she loved to babysit them. They had also lived with her and her husband Norman for a while.

We mourn the loss of a great community leader, and just a really nice person.

Georgia you have left a tremendous legacy here between the shelter and the food pantry. Your family and friends remember your kindness and wonderful heart.

God bless you. Rest in Peace. You made a big difference in this world.

Funeral services will be held Saturday in Isabel, SD

National Native American Youth HIV/AIDS Council

Friends and colleagues,

On this 6th annual National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we are excited to announce that the Native Youth Sexual Health Network is partnering with the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center to create the first National Native American Youth HIV/AIDS Council in the United States!

We are looking for Native youth ages 18 to 25 all across the US to join our Youth Council. Application forms can be downloaded here:
http://www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com/NNAYHACApplication.pdf

Deadline to apply is April 15th, 2012.

For more information about this day and our new Youth Council, check out "Time to Spring into National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" on Indian Country Today:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/03/20/time-to-spring-into-national-native-american-hivaids-awareness-day-103626

Regards,

--
Jessica Danforth (Yee)
Executive Director, The Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Chair, National Indigenous Youth Council on HIV/AIDS
jessica.j.yee@gmail.com
jyee@nativeyouthsexualhealth.com

www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com
Follow us on Twitter @NYSHN

From the Native Law Resource Center. Please Watch.

Ms Foundation Announces Fellowship for Women

The Ms. Foundation for Women has announced the launch of a new fellowship program designed to develop leaders who are advancing solutions to the critical issues that women face.

The Ms. Foundation Fellowship is a one-year program designed to provide the opportunity for one dynamic leader to leverage the foundation's resources and support while developing promising strategies to shift the cultural and political conditions that enable inequality to thrive.

Applicants must propose a project that addresses injustice against women. The foundation is particularly interested in proactive approaches that demonstrate and inspire the potential for large-scale, structural change in the areas of child care (access to affordable care and improved working conditions for care providers), reproductive health, and child sexual abuse.

Applicants should be an early- to mid-career leader with a promising idea about how to shift the circumstances of a large number of women in the United States, a deep understanding of the overall environment for their work, and a track record of achieving impact.

The fellow will receive financial compensation (approximately $60,000 to $85,000, depending on level of experience) and health benefits, in addition to mentorship and support from Ms. Foundation staff. The fellowship is a full-time, one-year commitment, beginning September 4, 2012, at the Ms. Foundation offices in New York. The recipient's work for the year should include the creation of a publically accessible product such as a book or report, white paper, video, public hearing, presentation, the launch of an initiative or nonprofit organization, or other creative work product. The fellowship may be used for lobbying within pre-negotiated limits and upon compliance with a tracking system for lobbying expenses. The fellow will be eligible to apply for a $50,000 continuation grant on completion of the fellowship.

Visit the Ms. Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application procedures.

Violence Against Women Act up for Reauthorization - ACTION REQUESTED!

December 5, 2011
Please forward widely!

The Violence Against Women Act is due for reauthorization.  Our wonderful Senate champions, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), introduced a bipartisan bill, S. 1925, on Wednesday (11/30/11) to reauthorize and improve VAWA!  Not only will this bill continue proven effective programs, but it will make key changes to streamline VAWA and make sure that even more people have access to safety, stability and justice.  The National Task Force to End Violence Against Women has worked closely with the Senators on the bill and the language clearly represents the voices of survivors. 

This is an important step forward for VAWA and we hope to get even more improvements as the bill moves forward! Our wonderful House champions Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) have been working closely with us and will introduce House legislation soon. If you have questions or want to report back about your efforts or results, please email ReauthorizeVAWA@gmail.com.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

What’s most important now is to get ALL legislators to support VAWA’s reauthorization!  As a constituent, it is especially important for you to tell your Members of Congress how important VAWA is to victims and service providers in your community.  

1.     SEND the following letter to the editor to your local papers: 

To The Editor:

Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking are pervasive issues throughout the United States In fact, these forms of violence affect everyone in [name of local community] in some way. The passage of the original Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994 was a giant step forward for our nation and meant that our federal government formally acknowledged that domestic and sexual violence cause tremendous harm, and therefore put resources into helping victims and responding to these crimes. Our community and millions of individuals are safer and better off as a result.

The time has come to again reauthorize this critical legislation. Evidence shows that VAWA is working. But there is more work to do. On average, each day three people are murdered because of this violence in America and several hundred people are raped or sexually assaulted. Countless children witness this violence. The Violence Against Women Act of 2011 will build on efforts to prevent violence before it begins and teach the next generation that violence is always wrong. We need more resources for all victims of violence. Congress must reauthorize this legislation to address this violence and build healthy communities. I urge [the name(s) of your member(s) of Congress and Senators] to sign on as co-sponsors of this legislation today.

Sincerely,

[Name, Title, Organization, Contact Info]

2.      Tweet this:  Help Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. Call ur senators TODAY & RT! #vaw #dv #VAWA bit.ly/ReAuthVawa

 

3.     Email your Senators (http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm) and Representatives (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml ) TODAY with this message:

I am writing to you about the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, in order to encourage Senator/Representative __________ to sign on as a co-sponsor.  The Violence Against Women Act has had an enormous impact since it was first reauthorized 17 years ago.  Thousands of judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, civil legal attorneys, and victim service providers have had access to DOJ-approved training and resources and, as a result, have become significantly more effective in addressing the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  

Research has shown VAWA's effectiveness.  A law enforcement training program developed in Maryland by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and the Johns Hopkins University has developed state of the art protocols for law enforcement officers who answer domestic violence calls.  The officers are taught how to collect evidence appropriately, how to establish if there is probable cause to arrest an alleged perpetrator, and how to conduct lethality assessments on the spot to ensure that victims get the services they need for safety.  Since this training was rolled out, domestic violence homicides in Maryland have dropped by 41%.  A 10 year study conducted in Kentucky found that the issuance of protection orders reduced lethality and serious injury and saved the state $85 million in averted criminal justice, healthcare, and property costs.  

Here is a link to a fact sheet that illustrates that VAWA has been instrumental in making victims safer, ensuring Constitutional protections for all parties, and improving the effectiveness of justice system and victim service responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking: http://www.breakthecycle.org/sites/default/files/SafeguardsinVAWANTF(2).docx.  There are critics of VAWA who believe that VAWA encourages bad practices by the police and the courts.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The fact sheet addresses many of those criticisms, so I invite you to read it and share it with your colleagues. Thank you.

Let’s get bipartisan VAWA legislation passed together!!  Thank you!


Thanks so Sarah Deer for forwarding this.

Indian Child Welfare Act Violations Prompts ACLU Investigation Into South Dakota Foster Care System

ACLU Seeks Input from American Indian Families With Children in DSS

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The appalling treatment of American Indian children, family, and tribes by the South Dakota Department of Social Services as described in recent NPR News reports has prompted the ACLU of South Dakota to investigate the actions as violations of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

The NPR News series, "Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families," explains how American Indian children represent more than half of all children in foster care, yet account for less than 15 percent of the state's total child population. The report also features interviews from tribal members who recall DSS officials driving onto the reservation, removing children from homes, and preventing contact with family.

The report describes several instances of ICWA violations, as well as blatant disregard of fundamental Constitutional norms and international human rights as affirmed by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, according to Robert Doody Esq., Executive Director of the ACLU of South Dakota.

"The ACLU is firmly committed to addressing this most recent manifestation of racism and colonization in our state," Doody said. "It is shocking to see politicians and members of the government, who hold themselves out as "pro-family," react in utter contempt and callous disregard to the legitimate grievances of American Indians."

The ACLU of South Dakota wants to hear from American Indians who recently had children removed by DSS in order to ascertain the depth and breadth of the problem. Any American Indian with concerns regarding their experiences with or treatment by DSS should contact the ACLU at (605) 332-2508 or email southdakota@aclu.org.


###

Please direct media inquiries to Taté Walker, ACLU of South Dakota Communications Director: (605) 332-2508, (646) 421-9387 or twalker@aclu.org. For more information about the ACLU of South Dakota, visit www.aclusd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
 

International Commission Hearing On Violence Against Native Women in the U.S.

Thank you Sarah Deer for posting this on CAVNET
Written by Administrator Thursday, 20 October 2011 09:28
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2011 email: jwalker@indianlaw.org International Commission Hearing On Violence Against Native Women in the U.S. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The epidemic proportions of violence against Native women in the United States continues to gain global attention. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will hold a hearing on Oct. 25, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. at the General Secretariat Building of the Organizations of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C. The Commission is an autonomous organ of the OAS, created by countries to protect human rights in the Americas. "The right to be safe and live free from violence is a fundamental human right that many in the United States take for granted---but not Native women," said Jana Walker, Director of the Safe Women, Strong Nation project at the Indian Law Resource Center. "This is a human rights crisis that Indian country has been aware of for some time. We are glad that the rest of the world is finally beginning to take notice." The Indian Law Resource Center along with the National Congress of American Indians Task Force on Violence Against Women, Clan Star, Inc., and the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, Inc. will present testimony. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, one out of three Native women will be raped in her lifetime, and three out of four will be physically assaulted. "Indian women also are 2 ½ times more likely to experience violence than other women in the United States and, even more shocking, the vast majority of these violent crimes are committed by non-Indians," said Juana Majel Dixon, First Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians and Co-Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. These shameful statistics are linked to systemic barriers imposed by United States law that prevents Indian nations from ensuring the safety of their citizens and adequately responding to crimes. Unlike local communities or state governments, Indian nations and Alaska Native villages are legally prohibited from prosecuting non-Indians, and tribal courts have greatly restricted sentencing authority for offenders committing acts of sexual and domestic violence that occur within their tribal lands and communities. "Jurisdictional restrictions, scarce resources for services to meet the needs of Native women especially those victimized by violence, and inadequate law enforcement responses all contribute to a flawed and unjust system," said Lucy Simpson, Executive Director, National Indigenous Women's Resource Center. "Few Native women have access to culturally appropriate services and meaningful justice. Even fewer will ever see their abusers prosecuted." "Mothers preparing daughters for what to do when they are raped is an outrageous reality that must end," said Terri Henry, Councilwoman for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Co-chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. "There is no question that violence against Native women has reached epidemic proportions." "The only question is when and how the United States will respond to these violations of its obligations under international human rights law." The panel will discuss topics ranging from U.S. law and policy that contributes to the human rights crisis, the jurisdictional challenges between tribes and the federal government in protecting Native women, and what needs to happen to bring the United States into full compliance with international human rights law. The hearing is open to the public and can be viewed online through the Organization of American States' web site. ### Partner Organizations About the National Congress of American Indians (202) 466-7767, email: Katy_Jackman@NCAI.org The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments. As the collective voice of tribal governments in the United States, NCAI is dedicated to ending the epidemic of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women. In 2003, NCAI created the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women to address and coordinate an organized response to national policy issues regarding violence against Indian women. The NCAI Task Force represents a national alliance of Indian nations and tribal organizations dedicated to the mission of enhancing the safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women. About Clan Star, Inc. Contact: Terri Henry (828) 497-5507 Clan Star, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization incorporated under the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in 2001, devoted to improving justice to strengthen the sovereignty of Indigenous women through legal, legislative, and policy initiatives, and, education and awareness. Clan Star provides technical assistance, training, and consultation throughout the United States to Indian tribes and tribal organizations in the development of public policy strategies addressing violence against women. For more information, visit www.clanstar.org. About the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center Contact: Lucy Simpson, Executive Director Email: lsimpson@niwrc.org The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) is a nonprofit organization that provides technical assistance, policy development, training, materials, and resource information for Indian and Alaska Native women, Native Hawaiians, and Native non-profit organizations addressing safety for Native women. The NIWRC's primary mission is to restore safety for Native women. For more information, visit www.niwrc.org. About the Indian Law Resource Center email: jwalker@indianlaw.org The Indian Law Resource Center is a non-profit law and advocacy organization established and directed by American Indians. The Center is based in Helena, Montana and also has an office in Washington, DC. We provide legal assistance to Indian and Alaska Native nations who are working to protect their lands, resources, human rights, environment, and cultural heritage. Our principal goal is the preservation and well-being of Indian and other Native nations and tribes. For more information, visit www.indianlaw.org.