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After a year’s long battle, Congress updated and enhanced the federal Violence Against Women Act, but many tribes are still wondering if they’ll see funding for its new provisions.
Matt Laslo has the story from Washington.
Under the updated Violence Against Women Act that President Joe Biden signed into law last year, tribes are finally allowed to prosecute non-Natives who abuse Native women in Indian Country.
But many tribes are asking, where’s the money?
Frank Star Comes Out is president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
“We lack law enforcement resources on our reservation due to a lack of funding.”
Star Comes Out says even though they changed the law, the government hasn’t distributed the money to implement it
“Well, we haven’t seen anything yet. Not that I know of.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wants to change that.
She’s pushing the Honoring Promises to Native Nation’s Act.
The bill has five titles aimed at what Warren says are “five broken promises” made by the U.S. government.
“Throughout the bill, we prioritized full funding for federal native programs. No more shortfalls. And the bill ensures that the funding going to Indian Country is mandatory. Fulfilling trust and treaty obligations is not optional.”
The first title of Sen. Warren’s measure is focused on criminal justice and public safety, and it’s mirrored off the special tribal jurisdiction included in the new Violence Against Women Act.
Part of that section would fund tribal justice systems, if tribes want them.
It also would increase funding for sexual assault victims in Indian Country.
Sen. Warren says it’s long overdue.
“Although this bill won’t become law immediately, I think it’s crucial for Congress to have legislation that says, unequivocally, the United States has broken its promises and the United States must start making good on them.”
Warren plans to introduce her Honoring Promises to Native Nation’s Act in the coming months.
Matriarchs of the Occupation of Wounded Knee were honored during events marking the 50th anniversary of the occupation.
Monday marked 50 years since the beginning of a 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota by members of the American Indian Movement to draw attention to broken government promises and the fight for American Indian rights.
Listen to Native America Calling’s special program on Wounded Knee @ 50
Some of the women who were there shared memories during a panel discussion over the weekend, which was live-streamed and hosted by the Warrior Women Project.
Madonna Thunder Hawk says she was in her 30s during that time and recalls how the event put Native issues in the spotlight.
Oglala women Ellen Moves Camp, Gladys Bissonette, and Lou Beane strategize with Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee (WKLDOC) lawyers on March 25, 1973. (Photo: Unknown)
“Every, every one of our nations was represented. I felt we’re not alone. It was locally, nationally, and internationally, because after Wounded Knee that’s what the elders told us we got the world attention and we need to go further.”
Thunder Hawk, who says she’s now an elder, has continued her advocacy, including her time at Standing Rock opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline.
“When I became an elder I saw that was the responsibility to show up and you don’t have to say anything, you don’t have to be on the mic, you just show up and those young people know you have their back.”
The event honoring women was held on the Pine Ridge Reservation and provided an opportunity for story sharing, and featured an oral history exhibit with Wounded Knee matriarchs.
Hear ten stories from the Matriarchs of the Occupation at Wounded Knee courtesy of The Warrior Women Project
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