Powerful Message Against Domestic Violence

I was pursuing the interwebz (mainly on Turtle Talk) and I found this video.  A very strong powerful message about domestic violence against Native American women.

It's interesting because it's written from the man's, the abuser's, point of view.  I feel like a lot of poems/artistic representation would be taken from the women's.  But this is from the man's, and he is aware and he is apologizing and he wants to raise awareness.

How this was filmed and how the poem is read made an impact on me, I don't think I'll forget this video ever.  It shows real indigenous women, the poem is not just a story, but real situations and issues that happen to these women. 

It's a voice coming from the abuser not to just the Native American reservation, but to the President, to senators, to the nation.  We are all a part of this.  

"For the restraining order that is as strong as the paper it's made from"

It's not enough

"I dare you to protect them Mr. President"

"I dare you to try to stop me tribal leaders"

It's not just a reservation issue

"This war is at home"

This is a really well written powerful message that manages to just sum everything up in a poem, in a very impacting video.

Please watch and share.  Awareness is not enough, doing something is.

Sidenote: This video was just posted yesterday, that's probably why it hasn't gotten a lot of views. But I'm really glad I found it.

Serious Turtle Talk Time: Native American Girls & Sex Trafficking

I decided to peruse some articles through my anthropology class's website today and one article caught my eye.  Not in a good way mind you, but in a horrific way.

Article's title?

Sex Trafficking Rampant in Indian Country; Pimps on Prowl for Native Girls

(The article is actually from Indian Country Today but I found through Turtle Talk)

Sex trafficking. Kinda of horrific for anyone, doesn't matter who or where, it's bad.  But it's happening at a higher rate for these young girls on the reservations than in the general US population.  And talking about this on the reservation isn't easy!  There's taboo and a stigma in the culture that would bring shame to any family that admitted their daughter was a prostitute.

And it sickens me that these pimps are the outlook for native women because they look more exotic, therefore, selling better to "customers". Ugh.  And these girls can start as young as 11.

Yes this is a problem for tons of girls, especially homeless, all over the country, but awareness has not been brought to the Portland, Washington reservation.  People aren't even aware that this is a problem, a growing problem, a common problem for women.  In an area and for a cultural group that already has an unstable economy, high rates of unemployment, depression, and unequal educational opportunities, prostitution is the perfect storm for young women.  That is scary and sad for them, to think that they may think they don't have any other choice and if they say anything, they will bring shame upon themselves and their family.  Yikes, that's a tough situation.

It's just sad cause these young girls don't have the same opportunities that the average American woman does.  Do they think they don't have a bright future ahead of them and they don't have any other choice?  I can't 100% say for sure, but all women of this country should have equal treatment.  Just because these women are on reservation with their own self government should not mean we should ignore their problems!  We should help, not intervene, but assist!

The future for all young Native American girls in the sex trafficking is not hopeless.

Sundvall-Williams was a prostitute til she realized she could get out and do better for her children and her life.  She now speaks against this sexual violence and for those women who are too scared to say anything.  I think she is extremely brave, not just because she is Native American but because she is a woman fighting for a cause she believes in.  She wants to give other girls the same courage she gathered to quit the life and move on to something better.

I hope to see better laws and more action in this area =\.  This is really too unfortunate, but it is nice to know that there is some people there fighting for the cause.

Toodles for now!