Smoke Signals 1 1
MARCH 15, 2013
Violence Agaimstt Women Act closes loophole
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
When President Barack Obama
re-authorized the 1994 Violence
Against Women Act on Thursday,
March 7, he closed a loophole and
brought more protection to Na
tive American women across the
country.
"Indian Country has some of the
highest rates of domestic abuse in
America," Obama said moments be
fore signing the bill. "And one of the
reasons is that when Native Ameri
can women are abused on Tribal
lands by an attacker who is not Native
American, the attacker is immune to
prosecution by Tribal courts.
"Well, as soon as I sign this bill
that ends. Tribal governments have
an inherent right to protect their
people, and all women deserve the
right to live free from fear. And that
is what today is all about."
According to the Department of
Justice, nearly half of all Native
American women have been raped,
beaten or stalked by an intimate
partner; one in three will be raped
in their lifetime; and on some res
ervations, women are murdered
at a rate 10 times higher than the
national average.
Also according to the Department
of Justice, 86 percent of rapes and
sexual assaults against Native
American women are committed by
non-Native American men.
Even more disturbing, the Gov
ernment Accountability Office
reported that between 2005 and
2009 that 67 percent of sexual
abuse cases sent to the federal
government for prosecution were
declined.
The reauthorized version of
VAWA gives Tribes sentencing
authority up to three years,
which could mean that some severe
cases still will be sent to federal or
state authorities for prosecution.
The new provisions also are geared
toward targeting domestic or dat
ing violence.
"Today represents a historic mo
ment in the nation-to-nation rela
tionships between Tribes and the
federal government," said Jefferson
Keel, president of the National
Congress of American Indians.
"Now that the Tribal provisions
have been enacted and protection
for all women re-authorized, justice
can march forward. Local Tribal
authorities have much work to do
to ensure that our citizens are pro
tected from these violent crimes.
"NCAI has already begun focus
ing on coordinating the imple
mentation of VAWA. Today is a
great day, because it marks the
beginning of justice and the end of
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Tribal Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CAS A) Program:
Wawa pus tenas
'Speaking for
ChildrenYouth'
UP1''
STAND
FOR OUR
NATIVE CHILDREN
The Tribal Court is looking for
committed, caring adults who have
an interest in helping one of the
nearly 90 Grand Ronde children currently in foster care by
becoming a CASA volunteer. As a volunteer, you will be
trained to help give children a voice during a difficult time
by appearing at Court, attending meetings involving the
child, and advocating for the child's best interest.
For more information or to apply, contact Adrea Korthase,
Tribal Court Program Specialist at 503-879-4623 or email
adrea. korthasearandroncle.orq
f you would like more information on how to volunteer and better serve ourTn'kal Children, please detach and complete this
form and return it tot Tribal Court programs Specialist, 96 t 2 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 977- Fr
additional information, call 06796l or email: adrca.Lorthaftc5randrondc.or5
(m tsa
V
please send me a CLA5A Advocate Application
please send me more information about the "Tribal Gourt GASA Program
Name:
Address:
. N
ir 'ilte Q'fA
3 V . j.
Manuel BalceCenetaAP Photo
President Barack Obama greets Our Sister's Keeper Executive Director
Diane Millich, left, and Tulalip Tribes of Washington state Vice Chairwoman
Deborah Parker, center, after signing the violence Against Women Act on
Thursday, March 7, at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. Attorney
General Eric Holder, back left, watches.
injustice that has gone unanswered
for too long."
In addition to programmatic
support for Native survivors of do
mestic violence and sexual assault,
the act includes Tribal jurisdiction
provisions authorizing Tribal gov
ernments to prosecute non-Indian
defendants involved in intimate
relationships with Native women
and who assault these victims on
Tribal land.
Before enactment of the law, fed
eral laws did not authorize Tribal
law enforcement or Tribal courts
to pursue any form of prosecution
or justice against the non-Indian
perpetrators.
The legislation finally passed
through Congress in late February
with a 286-138 vote in the House
and 78-22 vote in the Senate. P
Recycle Center moved
The Recycle Center has been moved to 9675 Grand Ronde Road. For more
information, contact the Tribal Facilities Manager at 503-879-2407.
The Native Wellnea Initiate Preienu
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