Each October, advocates and organizations nationwide come together to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to remember the victims of domestic violence, celebrate the resilience of survivors, and work towards ending the cycle of abuse. For Native American communities, this month carries additional weight. Native American women face some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the United States. The struggle to access vital services for safety, justice, and healing is exacerbated by the long-lasting effects of colonization and historical trauma.
In Native societies, colonization has imposed patriarchal structures and systems of domination that have led to the violence faced by Native women. The U.S. government addressed the crisis with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994. Over time, VAWA has been reauthorized and amended to better support Native women and strengthen tribal sovereignty in dealing with domestic violence and related crimes.
Native American women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 84% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and more than 55% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. These rates are significantly higher than those for women of other racial or ethnic groups. Native women also are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average, with many cases going unsolved.
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) is a non-profit dedicated to ending violence against Native women by strengthening tribal sovereignty and providing culturally appropriate resources. NIWRC works to raise awareness of the challenges Native women face and has been instrumental in shaping legislative changes, such as the reauthorization of VAWA, to expand protections. It also offers training and resources to tribal domestic violence programs to support survivors and hold offenders accountable.
The response to domestic violence among Native tribes in Louisiana and across the U.S. is multifaceted. At the federal level, the reauthorization of VAWA offers access to funding and the authority to prosecute non-Native perpetrators who commit crimes on tribal lands. The 2013 VAWA reauthorization affirmed tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders on tribal land. This jurisdiction, known as Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ), empowers tribes to hold perpetrators accountable even when they are not tribal members.
However, challenges remain. Many tribes, including those in Louisiana, continue to face barriers such as a lack of law enforcement resources, emergency shelters, and culturally appropriate victim services. Addressing domestic violence within Native communities requires an effort that includes federal, state, and tribal partnerships. According to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV), the state consistently ranks among the top five in the nation for domestic homicides. A 2020 study by the Violence Policy Center found that Louisiana ranked fifth in the U.S. for women murdered by men, with many of these women being killed by someone they knew — often a partner. Although the statistics were not broken down by racial or ethnic groups, this reflects the urgent need for funding for programs that address both the prevention of domestic violence and the provision of comprehensive services for survivors in the state.
Collaboration between Louisiana state agencies and tribal programs is essential to address domestic violence in Native communities. Federal and state tribal programs are often underfunded and to navigate. By working together, state and tribal entities can improve legal protections, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure the safety of Native women.
If you are a member of a Louisiana tribe or an enrolled member of a Native American tribe and are in need of support due to domestic violence, it’s important to know that there are resources available. Unfortunately, information on domestic violence programs specifically for Louisiana tribes is limited, but two direct contacts for assistance are listed below:
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s Victim Services Program
This program offers relief and support to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes. Services include counseling, emergency shelter, transportation, child services, and supportive care, all aimed at helping victims regain control of their lives and heal from trauma. For assistance, contact the Tunica-Biloxi Victim Services team at 318-240-6450 or 318-240-6455.
Chitimacha Tribe’s Human Services Department
Focused on improving the lives of tribal members, this department addresses issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and child neglect. The department collaborates with various partners to promote safe and stable families, both on the Chitimacha Reservation and in surrounding areas, through prevention programs and support services. For more information, contact the Chitimacha Human Services Department at 337-923-7000.
Related
Breaking the silence: Confronting domestic violence in Native American communities
Share this:
Everyone deserves access to quality information. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Each October, advocates and organizations nationwide come together to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to remember the victims of domestic violence, celebrate the resilience of survivors, and work towards ending the cycle of abuse. For Native American communities, this month carries additional weight. Native American women face some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the United States. The struggle to access vital services for safety, justice, and healing is exacerbated by the long-lasting effects of colonization and historical trauma.
In Native societies, colonization has imposed patriarchal structures and systems of domination that have led to the violence faced by Native women. The U.S. government addressed the crisis with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994. Over time, VAWA has been reauthorized and amended to better support Native women and strengthen tribal sovereignty in dealing with domestic violence and related crimes.
Native American women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 84% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and more than 55% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. These rates are significantly higher than those for women of other racial or ethnic groups. Native women also are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average, with many cases going unsolved.
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) is a non-profit dedicated to ending violence against Native women by strengthening tribal sovereignty and providing culturally appropriate resources. NIWRC works to raise awareness of the challenges Native women face and has been instrumental in shaping legislative changes, such as the reauthorization of VAWA, to expand protections. It also offers training and resources to tribal domestic violence programs to support survivors and hold offenders accountable.
The response to domestic violence among Native tribes in Louisiana and across the U.S. is multifaceted. At the federal level, the reauthorization of VAWA offers access to funding and the authority to prosecute non-Native perpetrators who commit crimes on tribal lands. The 2013 VAWA reauthorization affirmed tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders on tribal land. This jurisdiction, known as Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ), empowers tribes to hold perpetrators accountable even when they are not tribal members.
However, challenges remain. Many tribes, including those in Louisiana, continue to face barriers such as a lack of law enforcement resources, emergency shelters, and culturally appropriate victim services. Addressing domestic violence within Native communities requires an effort that includes federal, state, and tribal partnerships. According to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV), the state consistently ranks among the top five in the nation for domestic homicides. A 2020 study by the Violence Policy Center found that Louisiana ranked fifth in the U.S. for women murdered by men, with many of these women being killed by someone they knew — often a partner. Although the statistics were not broken down by racial or ethnic groups, this reflects the urgent need for funding for programs that address both the prevention of domestic violence and the provision of comprehensive services for survivors in the state.
Collaboration between Louisiana state agencies and tribal programs is essential to address domestic violence in Native communities. Federal and state tribal programs are often underfunded and to navigate. By working together, state and tribal entities can improve legal protections, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure the safety of Native women.
If you are a member of a Louisiana tribe or an enrolled member of a Native American tribe and are in need of support due to domestic violence, it’s important to know that there are resources available. Unfortunately, information on domestic violence programs specifically for Louisiana tribes is limited, but two direct contacts for assistance are listed below:
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s Victim Services Program
This program offers relief and support to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes. Services include counseling, emergency shelter, transportation, child services, and supportive care, all aimed at helping victims regain control of their lives and heal from trauma. For assistance, contact the Tunica-Biloxi Victim Services team at 318-240-6450 or 318-240-6455.
Chitimacha Tribe’s Human Services Department
Focused on improving the lives of tribal members, this department addresses issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and child neglect. The department collaborates with various partners to promote safe and stable families, both on the Chitimacha Reservation and in surrounding areas, through prevention programs and support services. For more information, contact the Chitimacha Human Services Department at 337-923-7000.
Related
Most Read Stories
Recent Stories
‘This is the children’s money’: Mayor, council at impasse over $20M schools settlement
Art Neville helped create the sounds of New Orleans
Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana’s police buffer zone law
How will Trump budget cuts affect red states like Louisiana?
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Brandi Liberty
Brandi Liberty is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska and a descendant of the United Houma Nation in Southern Louisiana. She is the owner of The Luak Group and its subsidiary... More by Brandi Liberty