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Domestic Violence: Resource Booklet Violence Against Native Women is Not Traditional

NCJ Number
216690
Date Published
2003
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This resource booklet provides information about violence against women in Indian Country and presents intervention and prevention strategies and responses.
Abstract
The booklet is culturally sensitive and geared for an American Indian audience. It makes use of diagrams and storytelling and draws on the cultural traditions of American Indians. Statistical facts about violence against native women are presented along with the written thoughts of a battered women’s shelter advocate. A tree diagram is presented of how to end violence against native women from the roots up, which is accompanied by the story of the three sisters that provides advice on how to relieve social problems. The tactics of colonization and oppression are reviewed along with a discussion of how externalized oppression becomes internalized oppression. Diagrams depict the cultural roots of equality (the natural world view) and the cultural roots of violence (the unnatural world view) and different analyses are offered about why there is violence against American Indian women. An analysis of male violence is presented followed by a brief legal history of violence against women in America. The power and control tactics of batterers are reviewed and are contrasted to natural, life-supporting power. Barriers to women escaping violent homes are examined and strategies are presented for helping abused women. Shelter responses to lesbian battering are also presented followed by an examination of the link between alcohol and domestic violence. The booklet concludes with a list of resources, including organizations, readings, and Web sites.