Information was obtained from research articles, personal interviews with two Native American Indian women, one Alaskan Native Indian woman, and a position paper on domestic violence. Research to date suggests that the abuse of both Indian women and children by Indian men can be traced to the introduction of alcohol, Christianity, and the European hierarchical family structure into Indian culture. Traditional methods of curtailing wife abuse were eliminated or limited with the advent of a Western European criminal justice process. The importance of these historical events must be considered when working with Native American Indian women. Another important issue is the cultural relevance and context of services provided. Those professionals who serve Native American Indian families must understand the role culture plays in the perception of and response to domestic violence. The interviews reported in this article focus on the cultural elements service providers must understand when they work with Native women in the area of domestic violence, how domestic violence affects children, the barriers Native women face when they attempt to leave an abusive relationship, and the role substance abuse plays in domestic violence. The summary of the position paper outlines 10 key points. First, Indian women may find it difficult to leave their families and enter a shelter because of the cultural bonds traditionally associated with families. Second, Indian women do not easily express their feelings; thus, it may be difficult for them to communicate their plight to others. Some of the recommendations of the position paper are to give Indian women all the same options as other abused women, to give them time to think through the options before they make a decision, to provide complete confidentiality, and to train Indian advocates to serve as role models for abused Indian women. 9 references