EQUAY WIIGAMIG* SPONSORS WORKSHOP ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Event Geared to Public Safety and Advocates
“Domestic Violence 101” was the title for a workshop sponsored by Equay Wiigamig (Women’s Shelter) of Red Lake, and was funded by the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs. The event, geared to advocates and law enforcement personnel, was held on Thursday April 7, 2011 in the Migizi (Eagle) Room at Seven Clans Event Center.
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| Public Safety Personnel |
The day began with with registration and continental breakfast. After a welcome and invocation by Frances Miller, tribal in-house attorney Michelle Paquin Johnson gave a report entitled “New Laws Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Enforcement Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010”.
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| Red Lake In-house Attorney, Michelle Paquin Johnson |
Paquin Johnson explained how the Act will affect laws and enforcement at Red Lake and Indian Country. The law will now allow up to three years imprisonment for sex crimes, up from only a year. She distributed several papers regarding tribal laws addressing said sex crimes and domestic violence. “As we look to the revival of our culture and language”, said Paquin Johnson, “we must remember that domestic abuse is not a tradition, and harms the whole family”.
Special guess speaker (who conducted three sessions) was Ron Teel (Delaware), who is a Captain with the County Sheriff’s Office at Osage/Quapaw, Oklahoma. Teel’s morning session was on “Defeating Myths and Stereotypes”.
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| Ron Teel |
“Perpetrators tend to minimize their actions”, said Teel, “they want to blame the booze, or another person, anyone but themselves,” he said. As an example Teel said, “if the chef burns your steak you don’t kick the heck out of him, but somehow perpetrators figure they can kick slap their wives if a meal isn’t on time.” Women need to know that isn’t normal, and so do their men. There is a way out for both, and help is available at Equay Wiigamig.
Before the lunch break, Stephanie Cobenais and Geoff Pierre explained the Law enforcement DV initiative.
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| Rose Barrett (foreground) helps Shari Mountain Smith prepare her presentation |
After a break, the last two sessions were held. The first was an “Introduction to Batterer’s Re-Education presented by Shari Mountain Smith and Todd Smith. This important program is relatively new, and seems to be working, and could save families if perpetrators want to correct their lives. “Abusers must be reeducated to realize that abuse just is not an acceptable way to deal with anger”, said Smith.
Teel closed out the day with “Standing up for All; The Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.”
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| Equay Wiigamig Director Darlene Lussier interviews with Lakeland News |
Darlene Lussier, Director of Equay Wiigamig said in an interview, that the shelter is for all women, not just Red Lake members. “We provide a variety of services, sexual assault victim advocacy, crisis intervention, individual, legal, and court advocacy”, said Lussier. “We also provide information and referrals, orders for protection, restraining orders, talking circles, and community education”, she said. “We will offer safety planning - in a safe environment, and our staff will provide acceptance and empathy with respect”
One of many brochures on Equay Wiigamig pointed out support groups for women, for teen girls, a shelter for women/children, confidentiality, community advocacy, bi-lingual advocacy, and domestic abuse awareness.
Statistics of Sexual Assault in Indian Country
- Over 70% of sexual assaults are not reported.
- The rate of violent crimes in Indian country is 2.5 times higher
- A National Violence Against Women survey indicated a 15.9% victimization rate of American Indians/Alaskan Natives by an intimate partner.
- 90% of American Indian Women in chemical dependency treatment programs have experienced some type of sexual abuse/assault.
- One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime
- One in four girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18
- One in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18
- 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows
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| Police Sgt. Dana Lyons interviews while Director Darlene Lussier listens |
Lussier said that “if you have any inkling that you or anyone you love may be in an abusive relationship of any kind, don’t wonder, find out by visit Equay Wiigamig and learn about the signs of sexual and other types of abuse, for women, for men for children, for victims and perpetrators. This won’t hurt”, she said. “Learn these things, help yourself and your loved ones”.
* The newly accepted double vowel system of Ojibwemowin spelling would be Ikwe Wigamig
8 comments:
a sobering post. Thank you for getting this important information out. Barb
I especially appreciate you posting "Understanding the Y's". We often wonder why a victim of abuse would stay in that situation, but fear prevents them from getting help. Education about this issue is key. Thanks for a very good post!
My husband & I are unpopular with our teen children because we do not allow sleepovers at their friends house. They can invite friends to stay here because we can only control what happens at home. The 85% of assualts happen by people you know is a REAL statistic. Miigwech for a great article.
When a person loses some or most of their self respect, then the hidden dual personality of that issue arrises, and they began to disrespect others. They symbolically beat themselves for their shortcomings, by using others that are close as their symbol of hate.
It should come as no surprise then, that any culture, or person, that has been taught by themselves, or others, that they have little or no value, become violent in nature, and self-destructive behavior becomes a more culturally accepted norm.
The statistics presented are staggering, and meetings such as the one shown should be required of anyone wishing to see a more gentle world. In our country respect is routinely denied to many of our citizens over a variety of issues. When, and only when, we see ourselves as equals of creation, will we see a significant change in the waring nature of the world where we co-exist.
All relationships are abusive in some nature for at least a brief, occasional moment, as we manifest our
desires over those of another; however only when we learn to respect ourselves, will mutual respect become commonplace. One cannot give what one does not possess.
I agree it is fear that stops women (there are male victims too but the majority of victims are women) and righfully so as statistics show that women who get restraining orders, etc. get harmed and somtimes killed for trying to set up safety nets. I believe we still have a far way to go to be able to protect victims. Minnesota is way ahead of the game for I understand that when a woman does call the police but does not press charges (out of fear), the police still contact the perpetrator on a regular basis and this has helped alot. I heard a story here where a woman was hit in public, waited 2 hours for the police to come and was actually told, "you don't have to press charges if you don't want to" thereby minimizing the event (which victims tend to do). We have so far to go.....
Well said Frank. We often don't care to look at the origins of abusive behavior.
Basque-Land~ you're right, we have a long way to go on this issue.
Frank~ words of wisdom! Thank you, I learn much from your comments.
Tough to get through. Very well done. I will circulate. Ev
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