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At Tribal Nations Conference, Biden address efforts to end violence against women; Holder announces initiative on Indian Child Welfare Act WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden joined more than 300 Tribal leaders at the sixth annual White House Tribal Nations Conference in December and at the opening of the conference, delivered an impassioned speech about violence against women in Indian Country. “The most horrific prison on earth is the four walls of an abused woman’s home,” said Biden. “For far too many Native American women, that is a daily reality.” Biden, the original author of the Vio- lence Against Women Act (VAWA) and its most steadfast supporter for the past 20 years, was introduced by Councilwoman Deborah Parker from the Tulalip Tribes. “Vice President Biden has led the movement to protect women against rape and domestic violence,” she said. “Last year, he helped pass the much-needed protection to help Native women from violence. Mr. Vice President, you are correct when you say no means no – no more abuse.” Referring to the provisions added to VAWA in 2013 that allow Tribal govern- ments to prosecute non-Indian domestic violence offenders in certain cases, the vice president apologized that it took so long to give Tribal governments the tools to hold offenders accountable in their communities. “As long as there is a single place where the abuse of power is excused as a question of jurisdiction or tolerated as a family affair, no one is truly safe and we cannot define ourselves as a society that is civilized,” he said. Biden delivered a call to action say- ing, “Tribal governments have an inherent right, as a matter of fact they have an obli- gation, to protect their people. All people deserve to live free of fear.” He urged all Tribal governments to be prepared on March 7 when the law goes into effect to use their authority to aggressively prosecute domestic vio- lence offenders. He stressed the need to change the culture that too often leaves victims asking what they did wrong and instead to focus on sending a strong message that violence against women is always unacceptable. Biden also acknowledged that we have much more to do to protect Native women from violence, including giving Alaska Tribes the same authority and expanding the provision to cover sexual assault and other crimes. Biden called on Congress to appropriate the $25 million in grants authorized in VAWA 2013 to implement the new law. Indian Child Welfare Act in partnership with the Departments of Interior and Health and Human Services. Attorney General Eric Holder fol- lowed Biden and strongly stated the Department of Justice’s commitment to improving law enforcement in Indian country and to institutionalizing that com- mitment so it will continue. He announced that he has implemented a Statement of Principles to guide the department’s work with Tribal nations into the future. Holder went on to explain that DOJ will work with its partners and Tribes “to promote Tribes’ authority to make placement decisions affecting Tribal children; to gather information about where the Indian Child Welfare Act is being systematically violated; and to take appropriate, targeted action to ensure that the next generation of great Tribal leaders can grow up in homes that are not only safe and loving, but also suffused with the proud traditions of Indian cultures.” Holder also announced a new ini- tiative to promote compliance with the Holder said the initiative is “working to actively identify state court cases where the United States can file briefs opposing the unnecessary and illegal removal of Indian children from their families and their Tribal communities.” NCAI launches Kickstarter campaign to change Washington NFL team name Our fight to change the mascot has been of David versus Goliath proportions. The Change the Mascot campaign simply cannot bring the same resources to bear as Washington’s billionaire owner, Daniel Snyder – not to mention the NFL itself. The page also features the first time the REPLACE/RENAME/RETHINK T-shirts will be available online-for an incentive pledge of $50. Please join us in changing the name of the Washington, D.C., NFL team. We invite you to: At its very core, this movement has been about people and that’s who it will be funded by – people like you. • The National Congress of American Indian’s Kickstarter campaign features a new video in follow-up to Proud to Be, which highlights the amazing progress in educating the public about the harmful and continued use of the Washington NFL team name. • • Contribute to the campaign at http:// kck.st/1v4dhYS. Share about the campaign on Face- book and Twitter (links available on the Kickstarter page). Invite folks in your community to join the campaign. PLAY visits our department to view. Please send a copy to Rosie Williams at rosiew@ctsi.nsn.us or P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549; or stop by the office. No originals, please. Playtime teaches children to be creative and helps them explore the world. Talking helps children grow their words and makes reading easier. To view NCAI’s Kickstarter cam- paign, visit http://kck.st/1v4dYS. Natural Resources looking for photos of hunting, fishing and gathering The Natural Resources Department is requesting photos of hunting/fishing/ gathering that will be kept in in the Natural Resources Department office and will be available for everyone who Turn every day, everywhere moments into fun learning activities for your child. S I NG READ TALK Singing helps develop sounds, language and memory in a fun way. Reading, in any language, sets children up for a successful future. PLAY, TALK, SING, READ every day with your child as you go about your daily activities. Learn more: stORytimeoregon.com Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow Attention Siletz Tribal Artists Royalty Crown Proposals The 2015 Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow Committee once again is having a logo contest for the upcoming pow-wow in August 2015. All Siletz Tribal artists are encouraged to submit a pow-wow themed logo. The winning logo artist will receive a cash prize of $250 and a professional banner with the logo. The winning artist will have his or her logo highlighted on Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow flyers and merchandise. Please submit your artwork to the Cultural Education director’s office at the Siletz Tribal Community Center or mail it to Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Attn: Pow-Wow Logo Contest, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. All entries must be received no later than March 2, 2015. The 2015 Pow-Wow Committee is now accepting proposals for 2015-2016 royalty crowns for Miss Siletz, Junior Miss Siletz and Little Miss Siletz. Proposals for a crown are required to include art design, size of the crown and a bid for the crown or crowns of your interest. Proposals can be submitted for individual crowns, two crowns or you can submit a bid for all three crowns. Crown proposals must be turned in to the committee no later than March 2, 2015. Proposals should be sent to Siletz Pow-Wow Committee, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. If you have any questions, contact Buddy Lane at 800-922-1399, ext 1230, or 541-444-8230. January 2015 • SiletzNews • 15