StrongHearts Native Helpline Answers the Call from Native Americans Facing Domestic Violence and Dating Violence

National helpline illustrates the unmet need for culturally-appropriate victim resources for Indian country

 In March 2019, the StrongHearts Native Helpline held an open house to mark the helpline’s second anniversary and new office headquarters in collaboration with the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) in Eagan, Minnesota. (From left to right: Tara Azure, NIWRC Training and Resource Specialist; Katie Ray-Jones, Chief Executive Office of the Hotline; Lori Jump, StrongHearts Assistant Director; Lucy Simpson, NIWRC Executive Director; Shawndell Dawson, Director of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, ACF/HHS; and Gwendolyn Packard, NIWRC Training & Technical Assistance Specialist.)

Indian Voices Covers First Native American Presidential Forum

August 20-21 2019

by Aaron Long (Dine)

The Native American Presidential Forum in Sioux City, Iowa with the Santee Sioux, Winnebago, and other tribes. They don't call it the Great Plains for nothing. Eleven Presidential candidates stood in front of three hundred and fifty American Indians from all over the country: Florida, San Diego, New York, Oklahoma, and everywhere in between.

On assignment from Indian Voices, I arrived at the end of day one on a golden evening that gave the vast green fields glory and the old style buildings of downtown Sioux City a refreshing breeze of fresh modern air. I knew I've arrived when I seen the bright and shining ribbon shirts and skirts exiting the Sioux City Orpheum Theater. The buzz was Elizabeth Warren's apology and speech. It  carried genuine weight that uplifted the audience to a standing ovation. It's as if it came from her very own heart. Those war cries and victory shouts made the lights flicker and the speakers crackle.

Four Directions Vote, a Native voting rights group from Mission, Iowa organized the two day forum. Why would a voting rights group put on such a forum? To get one million Native votes in the upcoming 2020 election #NativeVote2020. "When that happens, it'll change the political game forever," said Matt Samp, Communications Director.