“In an article published by The Guardian, Charon Asetoyer, CEO of the Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center, was confronted with an inconceivable question by a young mother on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in Lake Andes, South Dakota.
The question was: “What do I tell my daughter when she is raped?”
Recalling the incident, Asetoyer, a member of the Comanche tribe, said, “Not if she’s raped, but when she’s raped. We’re aware of how bad the problem is in our reservation community, but when somebody puts it to you that way, you realize it’s even worse than you thought it was.” (https://blog.nativehope.org/sexual-assault-a-horrifying-reality-for-native-american-girls)
According to a VAWA data briefing done in 2018 by the National Congress of American Indians:
- More than 4 in 5 (or 84.3%) American Indian women have experienced violence in their lifetime
- More than half have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime
This is happening to Native women all over the United States…including Oklahoma. Oklahoma ranks 10th in the U.S. for missing and murdered Indigenous women. This month, for National Native American Heritage Month, let’s remind everyone that violence against women is NOT traditional!
If you have questions HAVEN advocates are here to help.
You are NOT alone.
If you are able please call or see the messaging links above:
Haven Office: 918-554-2836
Text Line: 918.533.3070
Crime Victim Advocate: 541.602.0616
Program Website: https://havenprogram.com/
Facebook: HAVEN Tribal Program, Twitter: @ProgramHaven, Instagram: HAVENTRIBALProgram.
Our advocates are here to help!
After hours you can reach our local Community Crisis Center at 1.800.400.0883 and Strong Hearts Tribal Hotline at 1.844.762.8483
