Tribal Issues

From birth to death, many Native women face a life characterized by violence and poverty. Tribal governments struggle to provide safety and justice for their citizens, including individual Indian women and their children, and this struggle is directly tied to the sovereignty of Indian nations. Sovereignty of Indian tribes is not based on race or culture, but is rooted in the unique historical, political, and legal relationship between tribes and the U.S. government.

Prior to colonization, tribal justice systems and cultural supports were in place to ensure safety and protection for tribal women. The capacity of Indian tribes to care for their citizens was diminished by the imposition of colonial tribal governments. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 34.1%, more than one in three, Indian women will be raped in their lifetime; 64%, more than 6 in 10, Indian women will be assaulted; and, Indian women are stalked at more than twice the rate of other women. Seventy percent (70%) of violent victimizations experienced by Native women are more likely to be committed by other races, mostly Black and White men. This victimization differs from all other populations of women who are most at risk of being assaulted by members of their own race.

Primary tribal issues in responding to domestic violence and sexual assault include the lack of jurisdiction to respond to crimes committed by non-Indians on trust lands, the lack of authority to impose appropriate sentences in tribal courts, and the lack of resources to build the infrastructure of tribal criminal justice systems and community resources. This entry discusses historical tribal beliefs, the impact of colonization on Native women, contemporary tribal issues, and the future direction of addressing violence against Native women.