By Jimmy Lee Beason II, MSW, Osage Nation
Ha.we relatives! November is Native Heritage Month and I am very thankful to be provided this forum to provide information on a few Native led organizations that are doing an immense amount of community work to network, build, and uplift each other along with the help of our non-Native allies, despite hundreds of years of colonial subjugation. This is not a comprehensive list of all the organizations that are fighting against the many issues that challenge our communities. However, I would like to invite the readers to consider this as a good starting point to understand some of the issues that affect our communities and reach out to create partnerships and networks with those who are listed. Wey.na!
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) – https://www.niwrc.org/
NIWRC provides leadership on a national scale to end violence committed against Native women. Colonization brought concepts of patriarchal dominance that were totally foreign to our understandings of feminine and masculine balance. As a result, violence against Native women (as well as other non-Native women in society) reflects the utter disregard this colonial society has cultivated toward life-givers. To address this imbalance through grassroots advocacy, NIWRC provides resources to help Native women based on cultural relevance, while helping shape policies that uphold tribal sovereignty. NIWRC also advocates strongly on behalf of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic. Native women are murdered at a rate that is 10 times that of the national average on many reservations. Disappearances and murders are tied to domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking and stalking. An online toolkit provides recommendations for actions needed when a loved one goes missing.
The NIWRC also provides resources for allies that help promote cultural competency, education, and research specific to Native communities. Readings are also provided the help allies understand the issues of domestic violence against Native women and children and how this pertains to aspects of tribal sovereignty.
Illuminative – https://illuminatives.org/
Illuminative is a non-profit that was founded by Crystal Echohawk (Pawnee) and led by Native people. The purpose of Illuminative is to increase Native visibility and challenge harmful stereotypes about Native people typically portrayed in popular culture in places such as film and sports mascots. One of the biggest projects put forth by Illuminative is the Reclaiming Native Truth (RNT) initiative which was the largest public opinion research project ever conducted. The data in RNT indicates that pop culture, media and K-12 education continually perpetrate myths and stereotypes about Native people and culture. Illuminative welcomes allies and supporters to get involved and assist in achieving their mission.
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) – https://www.csvanw.org/
CSVANW was created to help stop violence against Native women and children by creating social change in Native communities. They are dedicated to advocacy and providing support to create violence free communities. CSVANW was created in 1996 by three Native women from the Kewa, Laguna Pueblo and Navajo nations. They worked to support other advocacy groups working to overcome domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking in tribal communities. The goal has always been to stop violence against Native women and children. They work to foster healthy families and communities through community-based solutions. As a coalition of different tribal groups and organizations, CSVANW does not provide direct services. However, they play a key role in bringing together different advocacy groups and individuals to fulfill the goal of ending violence.
Native American Rights Fund (NARF) – https://www.narf.org/
NARF began in 1970 as a legal aid group that provided assistance to tribal nations, organizations, and individuals all over the country. During the Red Power movement of the 1970’s, Native people were starting to advocate and demand their treaty rights, self-determination and the ability to teach their own children through culturally based education. The main focus of NARF today is to ensure federal and state governments uphold their legal obligations as stated in the treaties.
NARF consists of a board of directors and volunteers from thirteen different tribal nations across the country with varying legal expertise regarding Native law. At any given time, 50 cases can be handled by 16 staff members and some cases may take years to resolve. NARF attorneys choose cases to assist with based on their ability to set a precedence and ascertain legal principles of Federal Indian Law. Although NARF enjoyed success in the 1970s and 1980’s, the courts have become increasingly conservative, and this makes cases involving self-determination more difficult to win.
