In 2023, it is essential to raise awareness of the negative social permissions and systems that allow sexual violence to happen. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), we lift the Native women challenging systemic barriers, policies, and laws permitting such abuse. These women are inspiring and courageous in their efforts to achieve justice. Read the complete statement here.
The National Week of Action (WOA) 2023 is on May 1 - 7!
Registration is open! You can help call attention to the desperate rates at which Native and Indigenous women go missing and/or murdered. Participate with us in virtual events, explore our list of resources, and organize activities in your neighborhood. Wear red and share with us at #MMIWActionNow, #NoMoreStolenSisters, and #MMIW. Join us in saying enough is enough—no more stolen sisters! The National WOA for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is organized by The National Partners Work Group on MMIW and the MMIW Family Advisors. Register here.
Advocating at the Intersections of Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Substance Use Coercion (April 26)
Domestic and sexual violence (DSV) can have significant effects on one’s health and well-being, including increased risks related to trauma and substance use. In addition, survivors may be coerced to use substances or face increased violence if they do not, and have their attempts to engage in treatment and recovery sabotaged by a partner or ex-partner—all tactics of substance use coercion. This session will demonstrate the Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) approach to supporting survivors experiencing trauma and substance use coercion. Register today.
Foundation and Key Principles: Strengthening the Role of Advocacy in Indian Country Workshop (May 16 - 18)
This workshop will focus on the dynamics and impacts of battering/intimate partner violence, particularly on Native women. Key topics include basic advocacy skills, confidentiality, elements of shelter and other safe spaces, and the advocate’s role in social change initiatives outside shelter doors. Given the pandemic, we added a special session on COVID-19 mitigation best practices and indoor air mitigation tools. Discussion and interactive exercises are planned throughout this workshop. Register and attend in person or virtually.
Nominate Someone for a Tillie Black Bear Award!
We honor Tillie’s legacy through a biennial award to recognize outstanding grassroots advocate exemplifying the teachings and dedication Tillie instilled in our movement to restore safety for Native women. The nominee would exemplify culturally based, grassroots advocacy and leadership and be an Indigenous relative who advocates primarily for and with Native women and other survivors within Native communities and organizations. Nominations are due Friday, May 5, 2023. Submit your nomination form. Please, contact Brenda Hill at bhill@niwrc.org or Kim Zahne at kzahne@niwrc.org.
STTARS Celebrates Fair Housing Month!
STTARS calls attention to Fair Housing Month this April. When we think of fair housing, we often think of federal anti-discrimination legislation, like the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Our focus, from a policy perspective, has been to address racial segregation, which prompted the need for an act that would address the racist, discriminatory practices of the housing industry in the U.S.
Greetings Relatives,
This month, we are seeing a continuation of the loss of life and quality of life from COVID-19. During the week of March 22, at least 2,060 people died of COVID-19 nationally. Wastewater monitoring is even more critical in understanding national and local COVID transmission now as testing access and data are diminishing. To access county-level wastewater data (scroll down to “Covid-19 Wastewater Monitoring by County and U.S. Territory”) may provide more detailed information about your local COVID situation.
The CDC recently updated the Vital Statistics Reporting Guidance for COVID-19, stating that Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly referred to as “long COVID,” will now be used for vital statistics reporting. The CDC clarified in the updated guidance, “Emerging evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, can have lasting effects on nearly every organ and organ system of the body weeks, months, and potentially years after infection. Documented serious post-COVID-19 conditions include cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, endocrine, hematological, and gastrointestinal complications (8), as well as death.”
As the COVID-19 national emergency expires in May, many states move to remove mask requirements in healthcare facilities, with disability advocacy groups and the largest national nurses union calling to sustain protections. Here is the letter Disability Rights California sent to California’s Department of Public Health highlighting that “removing masking protections is a step backward for health equity.” While the U.S. was set to end the COVID-19 national emergency on May 11th, GOP leads H.J. Resolution 7 passed in the House and Senate, which will end the national emergency early once signed by President Biden. Fifteen million people are now expected to lose Medicaid coverage. The ending of the COVID-19 national emergency will also end free access to vaccines, therapeutics, and testing as the U.S. government moves to privatize the tools. Also expected is a significant impact on telehealth mental health services. Read more on the end of the COVID-19 national public health emergency.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to Kathy Sanchez, Faith Spotted Eagle, and Beatrice Norton for their knowledge sharing on the
Knowledge Keeper Prophecies: Teachings and Storytelling to Guide Values-Based Responses to Crisis and Disasters panel. Watch the recording of the powerful session here.
“Marquel Musgrave (Nambé), COVID technical assistance specialist at the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, said they would like the members of the MAT to consider who is the most impacted by COVID right now, and the weight that their decisions carry for the health of all New Mexicans who seek care.”
Best Ways To Protect Yourself
Wear a high-quality, well-fit mask like an N95, KN95, or KF94 (fits best for small faces) or a clear N95 for accessibility.
Support your immune system by eating traditional foods and herbs rich in vitamins and nutrients, and talk to your health care about supplementing with Zinc, vitamin C, Vitamins D3, K2, and Magnesium.
Water is our first medicine; stay hydrated, ground yourself using traditional medicines, and pray for our collective health and the protection of our little ones, who are heavily impacted at this time.
Best Ways To Protect and Educate Your Community
COVID-19 Resource Page: You can now access our COVID-19 Layered Mitigations: Workplace Community Care, which includes expandable menus for “Layered Mitigation for In-Person Meetings & Travel Guidance” “In-Office Community Care Best Practices,” and “Internal Staff Correspondence.”
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