Join Us in Contacting Your Senators to Pass the Reauthorization of the Bi-Partisan Violence Against Women Act

We are joining The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) call to action asking you to contact your Senator today to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Earlier this year the House of Representatives passed a bi-partisan VAWA Reauthorization bill (HR 1620). The Senate has not introduced a VAWA bill.

A key component of VAWA reauthorization must be reaffirming Tribal Nations’ jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indians who commit crimes of sexual violence, child abuse, elder abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults against law enforcement officers in Indian Country. Since VAWA’s reauthorization in 2013, Tribal Nations have successfully prosecuted non-Indian perpetrators in Indian Country, making their communities safer for American Indian and Alaska Native women, as well as the non-Indians who live among and with them.

However, Tribal Nations identified jurisdictional gaps, which continue to leave many Native victims of violence vulnerable and without access to justice. To truly modernize and strengthen VAWA, we must build on the success of the 2013 VAWA tribal provisions by closing these gaps and increasing resources available to Tribal Nations to protect their communities.

Now is the time to contact your Senators to tell them why the tribal jurisdiction provisions in the bi-partisan House VAWA bill are so important to the safety of Native women!

Text the word RESIST to 50409 or to Resistbot on iMessage or Telegram and follow the directions. Resistbot will turn your texts into a letter, and deliver it to the elected officials you choose: from your mayor to the President. 

Advocate for Native Representation in Education and Support Deb Haaland’s Confirmation as Secretary of Interior

The confirmation hearing for Congresswoman Deb Haaland for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior is scheduled to begin Tuesday, February 23rd, at 9:30 a.m. EST.

Here’s how you can help during the #DebForInterior Week of Action to generate a groundswell of public awareness and support for Congresswoman Haaland:

1. Add your name to a list of supporters for the historic confirmation of Representative Haaland for Secretary of the Interior by visiting bit.ly/Deb4Interior;
2. Share the website bit.ly/Deb4Interior on your social media pages, via text, and by email to urge your friends, families, and contacts to support Congresswoman Haaland’s nomination; and
3. Listen to Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s (D-NM, Pueblo of Laguna) confirmation hearing for the nomination as Secretary of the Department of the Interior on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. EST (view Webcast HERE).  The U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will hold the hearing and consider her nomination before it moves on for consideration by the full U.S. Senate.

Something Else Survey

When CNN lumped Native Americans in an ambiguous racial category they named “Something Else” on an infographic after the election, Natives created a firestorm across social media, fighting back with a weapon that has helped us survive for centuries: humor.

Today, our partners at IllumiNative launched the Something Else survey of Native voters to challenge our erasure in voting data and to demonstrate the strength and influence of our diverse peoples and Nations.

Please take five minutes and complete the survey here.

You have until Tuesday, November 16 to complete the survey. Please spread the word!

Thanks to IllumiNative’s partners Native Organizers Alliance, Center for Native American Youth, the University of Michigan, and the University of Berkley for making this survey possible

The American Indian College Fund compiled a list of educational resources for those interested in building their awareness about American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) experiences in historical and modern times. We hope these resources, from a variety of sources, will initiate conversations on Indigenous issues in the 21st century and express how we can better support and learn from Native peoples. Explore our resources to learn more.