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Violence Against Women Results show that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experi- enced violence in their lifetime (see ). This in- cludes 56.1% who have experienced sexual violence, 55.5% who have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, 48.8% who have experienced stalking and 66.4% who have experienced psychological aggres- sion by an intimate partner. Overall, more than 1.5 mil- lion American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. November is Native American Heritage Month. While we celebrate the diverse and vibrant cultures of Indige- nous peoples in the Americas, it is also important that we take a look at the way a history of marginalization has uniquely impacted American Indians’ experiences with domestic and sexual violence. Here are the facts: American Indians ages 12 and older experience an average of 5,900 sexual assaults each year. American Indians are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual assault than all other races in the U.S. More than one in three American Indian women are raped in their lifetime. 39% of American Indian women are victims of domestic violence. Most of the intimate partner violence against American Indian women is perpetrated by non-Native men. These startling statistics are a breach of social equity and are reflective of a complex accumulation of multi- generational oppression. A history of genocide, dehumanization, forced assimilation and land seizure dis- rupted cultural norms and implanted seeds of trauma that were passed down from generation to genera- tion. Adding to this trauma are the structural barriers that make access to supportive services difficult. Many American Indian reservations are located in remote and isolated regions of the country, making it hard for law enforcement, social services and other supports to even reach survivors and perpetrators. American Indian and Alaska Native men also have high victimization rates. More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native men (81.6 percent) have ). This experienced violence in their lifetime (see includes 27.5% who have experienced sexual violence, 43.2% who have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, 18.6% who have experienced stalking and 73% who have experienced psychological aggres- sion by an intimate partner. Overall, more than 1.4 million American Indian and Alaska Native men have experienced violence in their lifetime. Furthermore, as a result of the 1978 Oliphant vs. Suquamish Supreme Court decision, Tribal courts did not have the legal authority to prosecute non-Native people who committed crimes. Because much of the sexual and domestic violence experienced by American Indians was perpetrated by non-Natives, many such crimes saw no legal consequences. These are just a few reasons that contribute to the alarming rates at which American Indians experience sexual and domestic violence. WE ARE STILL HERE It is time to stop holding the survivors of sexual violence accountable for the trauma and pain inflicted upon them. We need help from our community members to make a difference. Native women experience the highest rates of sexual violence of any population in the United States. Our community remains silent because of generational trauma and retaliation. We want to create a “Circle of Support and Safety” for our women. EVENTS November 2022 Apron Making November 2 and 9 Tea and Salve Making November 30 New Trauma Support Group Every Thursday@5:30pm Contact Rachelle Endres for more info at rachellee@ctsi.nsn.us or 541-444-9638 For more information about the Siletz Tribe, visit ctsi.nsn.us. November 2022 • Siletz News • 5