Singing Our Rivers Red for Native

Women

By Ke l s ey Lans ing ,

Cu l tu r a l Ou t r each Coo rd ina to r , SASO

D a t e

Objectives

• Understanding the issues and impact of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women.

• Understanding the purpose and meaning behind the Sing Our Rivers Red traveling exhibit.

• Understanding the topic of violence against Native women.

Brief History

1492- Columbus/Spanish invasion

1830- Indian Removal ActTrail of Tears

1864- Sand Creek Massacre

1879- Carlisle School

1890- Wounded Knee

1924- Indian Citizenship Act

1954- Indian Relocation Act

1968- Indian Civil Rights Act

1972– Forced Sterilization

1973- Occupation of Wounded Knee

1978- Religious Freedom Act

1978- Indian Child Welfare Act

1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

Historical Trauma Overview

• Historical Trauma is a way of naming the cumulative emotional and psychological wounding which comes from group trauma experiences (Garrett et. al, 2014)

• Invasion of European and Spanish explorers• Colonization, boarding schools experiences, and forced assimilation

• Evident in events such as boarding schools, relocation, and sterilization of Native peoples

Indian Boarding School Overview

• 1849- BIA assumed responsibility of providing education to Native peoples

• Purpose was to solve “Indian problem”

• Main target was Native children• Restriction of speaking the language, cutting their hair, changing attire

• Installments of morals, values, language, and religion of dominant culture (Margolis, 2004)

• Assimilate or eliminate

• “…Kill the Indian, and Save the Man”: Capt. Richard H. Pratt on the Education of Native Americans

Indian Relocation Act of 1954 Overview

• US law that encouraged Native Americans to leave Indian reservations (PL 959, 1954)

• Reduced Native American populations on reservations for land exploitation

• Severed connections to culture, families, and land

Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women Overview

• Indian Health Services (IHS)

• US government dictated reproductive rights of Native American women (Smith, 2005)

• Stripped sacredness of life giving

• Still is practiced in various medical clinics

Violence Against Native Women Statistics (2016)

4 out of 5 Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime.

• 56.1% have experienced sexual violence

• 55.5% experienced violence by and intimate partner

• 48.8% experienced stalking

• 66.4% experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner

Overall, more than 1.5 million Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime. Rosay, A. B. (2016, October 19). Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men. Retrieved from National Institute of Justice:

https://nij.gov/journals/277/Pages/violence-against-american-indians-alaska-natives.aspx

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ReportP r o v i d e d b y t h e U r b a n I n d i a n H e a l t h I n s t i t u t e , a d i v i s i o n o f t h e S e a t t l e I n d i a n H e a l t h B o a r d , 2 0 1 6

Collection of the Data

Obstacles in Gathering Information

• The information gathered

from this report is a start in

the right direction.

• Not all data was reported.

• There are some cases that

were not brought to light.

• There has been an increase

in cases that are not

reported, yet.

Sing Our Rivers RedF o u n d e d i n 2 0 1 5w w w . s i n g o u r r i v e r s r e d . w o r d p r e s s . c o m

Sing Our Rivers Red (SORR)

Mission Statement:

Events aim to bring awareness to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and colonial gender based violence in the United States and Canada. The events strive to raise consciousness, unite ideas and demand action for Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and LGBTQQIA people who have been murdered or gone missing, tortured, raped, trafficked, and assaulted, who have not had the proper attention or justice. SORR also is being planned in solidarity and with collaborative spirit, meant to support the efforts built in Canada, as well as highlight the need for awareness and action to address colonial gender violence in the United States

Sing Our Rivers Red (SORR)

History:

There have been many movements in Canada raising consciousness and dialogue around this issue. Since 1980, over 1,181 Native women and girls in Canada have been reported missing or have been murdered. For over 20 years, there have been marches and events each year throughout Canada on Valentine’s Day to raise awareness such as the Women’s Memorial March. Initiatives listed on #ItStartsWithUs, including the Stolen Sisters movement, Sisters in Spirit, Families of Sisters in Spirit, #ItEndsHere, the Walking With Our Sisters exhibit, creating a community-led database and map, such as the Highway of Tears, and using media via the #MMIW (murdered and missing Indigenous hashtag) have helped bring attention to this issue. Efforts supporting awareness and unity in the U.S. include the Missing Sisters Crowd Map started by The Save Wįyąbi Project in collaboration with Anonymous’ Operation ThunderBird. This Map currently shows over 350 #MMIW in the United States. Ryan Red Corn of the 1491’s comedy troupe released a picture of a Native woman with her mouth covered to symbolize the silence, or lack of dialogue, about the issue. Additionally, groups are also taking up marches on Valentine’s Day and other actions around the States

Sing Our Rivers Red (SORR)

The (Lack of) Numbers in the US:

While there isn’t a comprehensive estimate, there are many that contribute to the disproportionate number of Indigenous women who are missing and murdered in the United States. Indigenous women have incurred devastating levels of violence in the US. According to the US Department of Justice, nearly half of all Native American women have been raped, beaten, or stalked by an intimate partner; one in three will be raped in their lifetime and on some reservations, women are murdered at a rate of 10 times higher than the national average.” But many factors complicate the reporting and recording of these numbers, including fear, stigma, legal barriers, racism, sexism, amongst others. Additionally, there is perpetuation of Native women as sexual objects in the mainstream media.

Sing Our Rivers Red (SORR)

The Action:

SORR events recognize that each of us has a voice to not only speak out about the injustices against our sisters, but also use the strength of those voices to sing for our healing. Water is the source of life and so are women. We need to Sing Our Rivers Red to remember the missing and murdered and those who are metaphorically drowning in injustices. We are connecting our support through the land and waters across the border.

Building the AwarenessC r e a t i n g t h e E a r r i n g D i s p l a y

Research

• Research various resources in your community

• Look up recent information about issues surrounding various community members

• Know who you are advocating

• Thoroughly look at who is in your community

• Indigenous, immigration, various cultures, age groups, abilities/disabilities, LGBTQ+

• Understand the cultural history of those in your community

• Know the general history of specific groups of people within communities

• Find key players in the community/surrounding community

• Other organizations, college professors, students, tribal members, etc.

American Indigenous Research Association Credit Dr. Lori Lambert

Finding Ideas

• Google

• Hashtags: #MMIW #SORR

• Key words: Red Dress Campaign, Sing Our Rivers Red, Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, etc.

• Social Media

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Tumblr

• News Articles

• Navajo Times

• Southern Ute Drum

• Indian Country Today

• Local Papers

• Reach out to various groups and organizations

• NAIS programs

• NAC (Native American Center)

• NAUHZCASA

• Pow Wows

• Collaborate with another organization on events

• Attend Conferences/ trainings

• Attend community events/fundraisers

• Meet and Greets

• Sunday socials

• Webinars

• Career fairs

• Block Parties

Creating the Earring Display

• Finding ways to engage community members

• Making it fun and creative

• Providing information on MMIW

• Looking up various ideas for the display.

• Burlap

• Pendleton

• Chicken Wire

• Felt

• Putting out the “Call for Earrings”

• Email chains

• Community flyers

22

Creating the Workshop

• Collaborating with the Fort Lewis College Title IX Coordinator

• Reached out to other FLC staff and professors

• Finding earring makers within the area that want to be apart of the workshop

• Setting up meetings on how we can create these workshops

• Utilizing on campus spaces to create earrings

• Set aside safe spaces for any disclosures

Building Community Involvement

• Brainstorming on creating more community involvement and awareness

• Contacting various places for host an exhibit

• Library

• Art center

• Museum

• Recreation center

• College

• Finding the appropriate contacts to honor earrings

• Drum group

• Prayer

• Candle light vigil

• Gaining local support from beading stores and trading posts

Skokomish Earring Display

• 754 tribal members

• Several earring displays on Skokomish reservation

• Earrings donated from Neah Bay, WA to Washington State Department of Corrections.

• In memory of Gionna Colfax

The Durango Arts Center Exhibit

• Contacted the DAC for potential exhibit of the earrings

• During the annual Noel Night event

• Local school district musical

• Art market

• Open gallery

• Gained community recognition

• Some knew the issues of MMIW

• A lot were interested in the exhibit

• Some were able to donate an earring

• For Ashlynn Mike

• For Nicole Redhorse

Ahé’hee’

Kelsey Lansing, Cultural Outreach Coordinator

970-259-3074 (Office Phone)

Kelsey@durangosaso.org

Durangosaso.org

970-247-5400 (24-hr Crisis Hotline)