U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

Office for Victims of Crime 

Victim Ser vices 

Promising 

Practices 

in Indian 

Country 

“Putting Victims First”
U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

810 Seventh Street NW. 

Washington, DC 20531 

John Ashcroft 

Attorney General 

Deborah J. Daniels 

Assistant Attorney General 

John W. Gillis 

Director, Office for Victims of Crime 

Office of Justice Programs 

Partnerships for Safer Communities 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov 

Office for Victims of Crime 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc 

For grant and funding information, contact 

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center 

1–800–421–6770 

NCJ 207019


This monograph was prepared by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute under contract 

number OJP–2001–211–BF/08, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office 

of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and 

conclusions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not 

necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of 

Justice. 

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which 

also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National 

Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 
Victim Services: Promising


Practices in Indian Country


November 2004


NCJ 207019

iii 

Acknowledgments 

This document was produced by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, which has two locations: 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

8235 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 211 

West Hollywood, CA 90046 

323–650–5467 

Fax: 323–650–8149 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

4155 Tudor Center Drive, Suite 206 

Anchorage, AK 99508 

907–770–1950 

Fax: 907–770–1951 

Web site: www.tribal-institute.org 

The following individuals contributed to this document: 

Primary Authors 

Sarah Deer, J.D. 

Joseph Flies-Away, M.P.A. and J.D. candidate 

Carrie Garrow, J.D. and M.P.P. 

Elton Naswood, M.A. candidate 

Diane Payne 

Additional Research 

Jacqueline R. Agtuca, J.D. 

Jerry Gardner, J.D. 

Ada Pecos Melton 

Editorial Assistance 

Mona Evan 
v 

Contents 

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii 

Native Village of Emmonak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 

Big Lagoon Rancheria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Crow Creek Reservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 

The Navajo Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 

Oglala Lakota Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Osage Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 

Pawnee Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

Turtle Mountain Chippewa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 

Rosebud Lakota Tribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 

Appendix A: Promising Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 

Appendix B: Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 
Chapter 1


1 

Native Village of Emmonak 

1 

specific advocacy and programming for child victims and children of adult victims. The children’s 

services coordinator works full time to provide 

community education and outreach to develop 

and improve the responses of state and tribal systems to child victims and witnesses of violence. 

EWS is closely connected to the village government and has the support of community leaders 

and elders. 

Safety and Comfort 

Although EWS offers a 24-hour hotline and 24-

hour access to its shelter, victims of violence in 

rural Alaska face unique barriers when seeking 

safety and receiving services. During the long 

winter months, for example, the high winds and 

cold weather can impede air travel and make any 

form of travel dangerous. A woman and her children seeking safety may face temperatures as low 

as 25 degrees below zero. As she flees a dangerous 

situation at home, she may be taking dangerous 

risks with the weather. 

Upon arriving at EWS, victims of crime will find 

more than comfort and safety. The shelter is a 

building provided by the village government, 

and it is designed and decorated to look and feel 

like a Yup’ik home. The shelter includes three 

Emmonak Women’s Shelter 

1979; first shelter established in 1984 

5 villages in the Lower Yukon Delta, Alaska 

more than 800 people reside in Emmonak 

federal, state, tribal 

Lenora Hootch, Director 

Emmonak Women’s Shelter 

P.O. Box 207 

Emmonak, AK 9581 

907–949–1443 

Fax: 907–949–1718 

E-mail: emmows@unicom-alaska.com 

Emmonak,Alaska 

Founded:


Service area:


Population:


Source of funding:


Contact:


Program Description 

E mmonak Women’s Shelter (EWS), a 

nonprofit organization in the Yup’ik Eskimo village of Emmonak, faces unique 

challenges in providing comprehensive services 

to victims of violence. Located approximately 

200 miles northwest of Bethel, Alaska, at the 

mouth of the Yukon River, EWS serves a population of 2,977 people spread over an approximate 

area of 6,000 square miles. Travel to and from 

Bethel, the regional “hub,” and between villages 

is by air or water; this part of Alaska has no 

roads. Victims are often flown in from other 

remote villages to receive services from EWS. 

The population in this area is 90- to 95-percent 

Alaska Native, primarily Yup’ik Eskimo. 

Established in 1984, EWS provides a wide range 

of services to victims of crime, including immediate safety (shelter), crisis intervention, children’s 

services, education and support to victims of 

domestic violence and/or sexual assault, and 

court accompaniment. EWS also provides comprehensive education and support services for 

local communities, schools, Tribal Councils, city 

governments, and other human services providers. With the help of a Children’s Justice Act 

grant, EWS expanded its services to include 
2 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

bedrooms, a children’s playroom filled with toys 

and books, and a common kitchen and living 

room area. Thanks to increased funding in recent 

years, the shelter is now staffed 24 hours a day. 

Native victims from as far away as Anchorage 

call EWS because they want to talk to someone 

who understands their language, culture, and 

community. Not everyone who calls the hotline 

needs immediate shelter, but the employees 

receive positive feedback from the victims who 

call to learn about their options and to hear a 

friendly voice. 

EWS serves the village of Emmonak in many 

ways, including sponsoring and coordinating 

community education and awareness events 

about child abuse, such as the Peace Walk and 

the Candlelight Vigil. Using both the regional 

radio station and the village station, EWS provides public service announcements about 

domestic violence, sexual abuse, child sexual 

abuse, and neglect. EWS also sponsors activities 

for mothers and children as well as community 

events to promote healthy family activities. Information about events is also aired over the local 

television channel. 

Cultural Relevance 

EWS is the only shelter in Alaska that is in a village setting; it is also the only completely Nativeoperated and -managed facility that serves 

victims. Because the EWS staff are all Yup’ikspeaking Native women who are active in their 

communities, have families of their own, and 

understand the regional issues, the services of 

EWS are in high demand. Victims can receive 

counseling and support in their own language, 

and the shelter provides all services compatible 

with the Yup’ik philosophical context. EWS also 

provides shelter for residents with opportunities 

to participate in Yup’ik cultural activities and to 

prepare Native foods. Staff members report that 

victims appreciate these Native-based approaches 

to victim services and that their programs have 

developed a statewide reputation for sensitivity 

to rural Native women. 

Most Native residents of Emmonak are 

Catholic, and the local church has a 

close relationship with the shelter. The church 

provides support and resources to shelter residents. The combination of traditional Yup’ik cultural traditions with local community, faith-based 

services enables victims to receive a full spectrum 

of spiritual guidance and support. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Build on the strengths that already exist in 

the community. The EWS board of directors 

has strong, committed leaders who want to 

see justice for victims. 

✦	 Use the cultural knowledge, methods, and 

resources in the community to make the 

program culturally relevant and appropriate. 

✦	 Involve elders and parents throughout the 

community in children’s activities. 

✦	 Listen to survivors. The Emmonak Women’s 

Shelter requests that all of its shelter residents complete an exit interview and asks 

victims which services were most helpful. 

✦	 Cultivate interagency and interprogram 

cooperation. 

Quotes 

Here in Alaska, we’re so distant from each other. 

We’re off the road system and our highway is the 

river. It is really important to have programs like this 

in the villages because a lot of our Native people 

don’t like to leave their homes. 

—Lenora Hootch


Director


Emmonak Women’s Shelter


I think it’s very important that we have our own 

Native-based shelter that is run by Native staff 

because we are the only ones who truly understand 

our culture. The Native people are very connected. 

I believe individuals from the same community 

understand one another better than outsiders. 

—Lenora Hootch


Director


Emmonak Women’s Shelter

Chapter 2


3 

Big Lagoon Rancheria 

funding from the Children’s Justice Act Partnership program from the Office for Victims of 

Crime (OVC). At that time, Two Feathers had 

two staff members. Initially, community members 

seemed uncomfortable embracing a victim services program. However, after listening to the 

concerns of community members, the staff determined that a positive, culturally based scope of 

services would separate their services from those 

provided by the state and county that were not 

specifically designed for Indian people. Community members wanted to hear about healthy families and how their culture contributes to making 

healthy families. Focusing on these ideas, Two 

Feathers developed services and cultural groups 

that promoted healthy families and built a reputation as a safe and healthy place that provides 

assistance to families. In the past 4 years, with 

much hard work and dedication, the staff of 2 has 

evolved into a staff of 12, with expanded services 

and stronger relationships with the non-Indian 

agencies in the county. 

Services 

Two Feathers provides numerous services to the 

Native community in Humboldt County. Two 

Two Feathers Native American Family Services 

McKinleyville, California 

1998 

8 tribes in Humboldt County, California 

128,419 in Humboldt County, 5.75 percent 

Native American 

federal, tribal, county, state 

Pamela Leach, Director 

Two Feathers Native American Family Services 

2355 Central Avenue, Suite C 

McKinleyville, CA 95519 

707–839–1933 

E-mail: pamela@twofeathers-nafs.org 

Web site: www.twofeathers-nafs.org/index.html 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

Two Feathers Native American Family Services 

(Two Feathers) is located in Humboldt County in 

northern California. It provides services to child 

and adult victims of abuse as well as comprehensive family services, advocacy, crisis intervention, 

Native foster home recruitment, referrals, and 

cultural groups for members of all eight federally 

recognized tribes within the county. Two Feathers’ unique approach to services balances cultural 

traditions and a modern healing process for individuals, families, and the community. Two Feathers also acts as a liaison to other county and tribal 

services and has provided leadership on cultural 

competency initiatives to improve the way nontribal entities work with the tribes in their service 

area. Two Feathers’ programs have provided some 

successful approaches for integrating cultural elements into healing and victim support and for 

offering wellness activities that strengthen the 

community’s response to the needs of victims. 

Two Feathers was established in 1996 and initially provided primarily Indian Child Welfare Act 

(ICWA) services. In 1998, the agency received 
staff social workers work directly with crime victims in the local state court system. Services 

include 

✦ Crisis intervention. 

✦ Filing restraining orders. 

✦ Court accompaniment and liaison. 

✦ Moral and emotional support. 

✦ Individual and group counseling. 

✦ Transportation for victims and nonoffending 

family members to attend and participate in 

services and activities. 

✦ Family and individual case management. 

✦ Advocacy. 

✦ Assisting with victim-witness financial 

claims. 

To avoid scheduling and transportation problems, 

the counselors often travel to the local schools 

and hold appointments there. Transportation is 

also available to bring victims of crime to the 

Two Feathers office, where they can participate 

in cultural groups or support groups. 

Innovative Cross-Cultural 

Connections 

Training other agencies is an integral part of Two 

Feathers’ mission. Using a “community readiness 

assessment,” Two Feathers staff identified the 

level of cultural competency among collaborating 

state and county agencies involved with Indian 

families, children, and victims. Using information 

gathered by the assessment, Two Feathers staff 

W was designed 

to give a hands-on approach to Native culture in 

the county and surrounding tribal areas as well 

as information about the services available at 

4 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

referrals to Two Feathers. WOW served as a guided field trip that provided participants with a history of the tribes and the region from the tribal 

point of view as well as specific education on the 

important role that culture can play in a crime 

victim’s healing and the restoration of long-term 

well-being. State and county employees had an 

opportunity to visit several tribal communities 

and learn about the strengths of contemporary 

American Indian culture. Because of WOW, more 

state and county agencies refer Indian people 

needing support and services to Two Feathers, and 

those agencies are usually more respectful in their 

interactions with tribal members at all levels. 

Two Feathers continues to offer cultural competency and resource training to anyone who is 

interested in learning more about their services 

and to work with tribes in the region on issues 

related to child and adult abuse. Because of the 

large number of Indian children involved in state 

child abuse and neglect proceedings and the role 

of ICWA in the work being done at Two Feathers, the staff is making a video about ICWA that 

can be used to train new county social services 

employees as well as to inform the community 

about rights under ICWA. Two Feathers also 

reaches out in other ways to the surrounding 

community. Two Feathers hosts tribal ICWA 

workers, providing them with an opportunity to 

discuss foster care issues and receive support from 

each other. Two Feathers also hosts an Intertribal 

Women’s Advocacy Network (ITWAN) for Indian women working in the family violence field. 

ITWAN provides an opportunity for women to 

network, discuss issues, support each other, and 

plan for improvement. 

Cultural Relevance 

Cultural groups are an important element of the 

services available at Two Feathers. Elders and 

experts in northern California Indian culture are 

brought in to teach Native American art and traditions to the youth. Not only do the groups provide an opportunity to learn important skills, but 

the cultural groups also allow young people who 

have been victimized to support each other and 

develop friendships. Examples of cultural activities include 
✦	 A basketmaking group for teenage girls. The 

group leader helps the girls gather the 

appropriate materials and teaches them 

weaving skills. 

✦	 A Native Women’s Healing Group for adult 

women. The group combines therapy and 

basketry. A therapist and a cultural expert 

are coleaders. The basketmaking process is 

integrated into the group therapy sessions. 

✦	 A boy’s group focusing on traditional games. 

This group, led by a young man, helps boys 

learn about their culture and provides a positive outlet for boys who are dealing with 

victimization. 

✦	 The youth drum group. In this group, an 

elder teaches youth how to drum and sing. 

Later, the elder accompanies the group to 

powwows to lead the group in song. 

The cultural groups have been instrumental in 

helping the youth heal and grow. Many youth 

have been with Two Feathers since the program 

began 6 years ago, and the staff have watched 

them grow and heal as they made their own 

regalia, danced at their first powwow, and sat in 

on their first drum group. Through the cultural 

groups, the youth are becoming more successful, 

developing strong self-esteem, and preparing to 

become contributing members of their tribes. 

The programs of Two Feathers Native American 

Family Services demonstrate the success of integrating healthy cultural traditions with victim 

services, resulting in strong and healthy families. 

The victims and their families who were served 

through these programs will no doubt share the 

traditions and lessons they learned with their 

own children and communities. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Build on the tribes’ cultural strengths. Most 

tribes have abundant examples of members 

who live violence-free lifestyles that 

advocate spiritual, mental, and physical 

well-being. The use of cultural values, philosophies, and practices can enhance the credibility of the programs and increase the 

success of the services for 

victims. 

✦ Develop partnerships through memorandums of understanding with outside 

agencies to help victims find the resources 

they need. 

✦ Provide transportation services so that 

victims will be able to participate in the 

programs. 

✦ Educate the non-Native service provider 

community on local history, culture, and 

strengths. Reach out to a wide range of service providers, including social services, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, and 

court staff. 

Quotes 

We took a lot of nonnative agencies on a tour 

through Indian Country, and educated them on our 

ways and our beliefs. The program was a big success and word got out in the nonnative community 

about our “Workshop on Wheels” and now there is 

a waiting list of people wanting to get on that bus. 

—Sandra Aubry-Rivas 

Social Worker 

By addressing change at an administrative level [of 

the state and county agencies], we’re hoping to 

increase cultural competency at a systemic level. 

—Sandra Aubry-Rivas 

Social Worker 

Two Feathers’ mission is to promote the stability and 

security of families, and to protect the best interest 

of Indian children. We are committed to incorporating cultural traditions that encourage a balance of 

emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health. 

We are dedicated to collaborating with both Indian 

and non-Indian agencies to achieve these goals and 

to honor the privacy of Indian families. 

—Two Feathers Web site 

5 

Big Lagoon 

Rancheria 
Chapter 3 

Crow Creek Reservation


Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc.


Project SAFE and The Children’s Safe Place


Fort Thompson, South Dakota


7 

24-hour crisis hotline. 

Crisis counseling. 

Shelter. 

Court advocacy. 

Protection orders. 

Emergency legal advocacy. 

Medical advocacy. 

Relocation assistance. 

Food/clothing/toiletries assistance. 

Transportation. 

Emergency financial assistance. 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc., Project SAFE is a nonprofit victim services organization located on the 

Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota. Any 

victim in search of safety is eligible for services. 

The crime victims who most often seek refuge 

from the organization are victims of domestic 

violence, sexual abuse, and child abuse. The 

overall mission of Wiconi Wawokiya is to reduce 

violence in the home, workplace, and schools. 

The staff and volunteers strive to empower individuals who feel oppressed and to educate people 

about domestic violence, sexual assault, and child 

abuse. By informing people that these crimes are 

not a Dakota/Lakota tradition and by advocating 

for holding abusers accountable, Wiconi Wawokiya 

is providing leadership and inspiration to address 

issues of victimization locally and beyond, as it 

serves as a model for other tribes. 

The staff of Wiconi Wawokiya (including six 

employees and five volunteers) work together to 

form a comprehensive team to provide direct 

1985 (Project SAFE) and 1998 (The 


Children’s Safe Place)


358,361 acres (Crow Creek Reservation and 


the Lower Brule Lakota Reservation) located in


south central South Dakota


3,500 people live on the Crow Creek 


Reservation


federal, state, private donations


Lisa Thompson, Executive Director


Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc.


P.O. Box 49


Fort Thompson, SD 57339


605–245–2471


Fax: 605–245–2737


services to victims and education to the commu­


nity. The staff provides the following services for


primary and secondary victims: 


✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 
8 

✦ Followup, information and referral. 

✦ Victim advocacy. 

✦ Forensic medical exams and interviews for 

child abuse victims. 

✦ Mental health therapy. 

Wiconi Wawokiya uses donations of clothes and 

household goods it receives from the community 

to help women and children begin new, safe lives. 

Often, victims will be hesitant to leave a violent 

situation because they have to leave behind their 

belongings. The Wiconi Wawokiya staff suggests 

that, “Your material goods can be replaced, but 

you cannot.” With that philosophy in mind, the 

staff locates resources to start a new, violence-free 

home, and ensures that the needs of every victim 

are met. 

Wiconi Wawokiya participates in a tribal-federalstate multidisciplinary team (MDT) and was a 

key leader in its development. This MDT meets 

regularly to share information and discuss issues 

impacting child victims and their families. The 

child victims need support and safety, and their 

families may have cases in the legal system. This 

MDT has been recognized as a model for other 

Indian Country efforts due to the exceptional 

cooperation and collaboration between the participating agencies. 

Increasing Safety for Victims 

Wiconi Wawokiya has been the impetus for 

social change in the surrounding Indian communities. In 1995, the organization opened its own 

shelter for victims of domestic violence. Prior to 

that time, the only form of shelter was office 

space and two bedrooms. The new facility currently has the capacity to provide shelter for 12 

to 14 people, including children. Victims from 

both the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Reservations seek refuge here. The shelter environment 

is like a home and provides safety in its location 

on the reservation so victims do not have to 

leave their jobs, have their children change 

schools, or be removed from their extended 

families when seeking support and 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

services. Wiconi Wawokiya has developed a complex of buildings that provide services for adults 

and children, including a storage area for donated 

clothing and household items that victims may 

need to start their lives over. 

Another building houses The Children’s Safe 

Place—a child advocacy center. As part of its 

dedication to improve the lives of Indian families, Wiconi Wawokiya developed one of the first 

Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) in Indian 

Country. Knowing that children of abused 

women may also be victims of physical or sexual 

abuse, the staff sought support to provide a childfriendly center where Indian children can come 

for the forensic medical examinations and interviews can be conducted for the investigation of 

crimes involving the child as a victim or a witness. A forensic medical specialist conducts medical evaluation of suspected child abuse. In 

addition, tribal and federal investigators come to 

The Children’s Safe Place to talk with children 

and their families in a child-centered and culturally specific setting that promotes safety and healing for these victims. Wiconi Wawokiya has 

telemedicine equipment available to allow the 

medical examiner to consult with other physicians about forensic medical evidence without 

taking the child away from the community. 

Wiconi Wawokiya advocated for mandatory 

arrest of domestic violence offenders and was successful when the tribe passed a mandatory arrest 

law in 1997. Offenders must now be arrested and 

removed from their homes upon police arrival to 

provide safety for victims. 

The Wiconi Wawokiya staff have received 

awards and recognition for their hard work and 

dedication to assisting victims. During the 1998 

National Crime Victim Rights Week, Wiconi 

Wawokiya and Lisa Thompson, the Director, 

received Certificates of Appreciation from the 

U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. 

Another staff member, an advocate, received the 

award in 2001. Wiconi Wawokiya was also nominated by the U.S. Attorney for the Office for 

Victims of Crime’s National Crime Victim Rights 

Week Award. 
Community Connections 

Volunteers are very instrumental in the success of 

Wiconi Wawokiya. Currently, the organization 

has between five and seven active volunteers. 

The volunteers perform crucial tasks such as providing transportation to victims, providing comfort to victims by talking with them, cleaning the 

shelter, sorting through donations, and answering 

telephone calls. Volunteer trainings are held 

annually. To express their appreciation for the 

dedication of the volunteers, the Wiconi 

Wawokiya staff holds an annual volunteer recognition event to acknowledge and thank the volunteers and recognize their contributions. 

Wiconi Wawokiya works tirelessly to educate the 

community about violence and victims. In 2001, 

the staff hosted their first annual powwow, entitled “In Honor of Victims and Survivors,” which 

brought the community together to honor and 

respect victims and survivors. Wiconi Wawokiya 

honored victims and survivors with a giveaway. 

Hosting this annual event is a great opportunity 

for the community to come together to celebrate 

and honor survivors as well as learn about stopping the cycle of violence. Wiconi Wawokiya 

also coordinates other events throughout the year 

to raise awareness of the issues of child abuse and 

domestic violence, including production of a 

quarterly newsletter with resources, stories, and 

topics to support healing for victims. 

From the smallest child victim to the small act of 

helping a victim dial the phone to talk to law 

enforcement, no victim or victim’s need is too 

small for the staff and volunteers at Wiconi 

Wawokiya. By striving to eradicate violence from 

homes, workplaces, and schools, they are creating 

a safer community and Nation. One victim and 

family at a time, they break the cycle 

of violence and help victims realize they 

are irreplaceable. 

Keys to Success 

✦ Build aggressive coalitions. Multidisciplinary 

teams, including federal, tribal, and state 

officials, are crucial when trying to protect 

victimized children. It is vital to coordinate 

resources and work together to address child 

and adult victimization. 

✦ Understand that the family members of victims of crime need services, too. The children of battered women may or may not 

have been physically attacked themselves, 

but they still need services. 

✦ Build on community strengths. Activities 

such as powwows and other local events 

allow the community to honor and appreciate the work done by victim services staff. 

Quotes 

Our multidisciplinary team includes the federal 

prosecutor and an FBI agent. We also have our 

state social services that attend, our BIA social 

workers, and an advocate as well as myself and our 

local law enforcement, including our criminal investigator and our Chief of Police. 

—Lisa Thompson 

Executive Director 

Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc. 

We’re in a place where we can provide services to 

both native and non-native children. 

—Lisa Thompson 

Executive Director 

Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc. 

9 

Crow Creek 

Reservation 
Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

The Victim Services Program of the Sault Ste. 

Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has a very 

proactive approach to providing services to victims of crime. The program provides comprehensive services to victims of crime using a 

multidisciplinary and culturally specific approach. 

The program works toward lessening the impact 

of victimization, identifying the needs of victims 

and their families, and assisting in meeting the 

identified needs. 

The Victim Services Program covers a large, 

seven-county area in northern Michigan, including Chippewa, Mackinac, Alger, Luce, Delta, 

Schoolcraft, and Marquette Counties. The program provides services to all Native Americans 

living in the seven-county area and any nonNative American who is a victim of a crime on 

the Sault Ste. Marie Reservation. With a staff of 

eight, including the program manager, three 

advocates, one assistant advocate, an attorney, 

an MSW counselor, and a secretary, the Victim 

Services Program works to address the needs of 

victims. The team approach to providing safety 

Chapter 4 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of 

Chippewa Indians 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Victim Services Program 

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 

1989


7 counties at the extreme eastern end of the 


Michigan Peninsula near the Canadian border


20,632


federal, state


Lori Jump, Director


2428 Shunk Road


Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783


906–635–7705


Web site: www.saulttribe.org/directory/page44.htm


and support to victims of crime has been instru­


mental in the success of the program.


Services Offered 

The program offers myriad services for its clients, 

including 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

Legal Assistance 

The program also provides emotional support and 

personal advocacy that may include contacts 

with other service providers including law enforcement, prosecutors, social workers, substance 

abuse counselors, and mental health counselors. 

Emergency legal assistance is available to victims 

11 

Short-term counseling. 

Ongoing counseling. 

Assistance with the state crime victim compensation application. 

Safety planning. 

Court accompaniment. 
12 

who need assistance in filing for Personal Protection Orders (PPOs). Domestic violence, sexual 

assault, and stalking victims are eligible for free 

legal assistance with civil matters from a licensed 

attorney to help with child custody, divorce, 

landlord/tenant issues, and other problems. The 

program ensures that clients can attend meetings 

and court hearings by providing free transportation to court, medical treatment, counseling sessions, and other appointments. 

Cultural Relevance 

Maintaining and teaching the Chippewa culture 

is also an important element of the program’s 

services. Women victims of crime can attend a 

women’s talking circle, an educational group for 

victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and 

stalking. Native American teachings are incorporated into the group process. No victim is mandated to participate in ceremonies—however, the 

program expects all participants in the talking 

circles to show respect for traditional beliefs and 

practices. Other cultural activities include arts 

and crafts, sweat lodge ceremonies, and seasonal 

women’s ceremonies. These activities are essential to the healing process because they help victims stay connected with their identity and 

community. Often, non-Native American programs cannot provide cultural services due to lack 

of funding or knowledge. Because of the connections that the Sault Ste. Marie Victim Services 

Program has in the community, the important 

needs of victims can be immediately addressed in 

a culturally competent manner. By using the traditional Chippewa culture, the program deals 

with the aftereffects of violence and works to 

help crime victims reintegrate into society. 

Ensuring Victim Safety 

Sault Ste. Marie’s Victim Services Program places 

high priority on helping victims of domestic violence find ways to find and maintain safety. 

Because many victims of domestic violence are 

vulnerable to continuing violence during child 

custody exchanges, the program provides a safe 

place for child exchange for victims who 

have children with abusive partners. This 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

custody exchange project prevents revictimization of the parent and child by offering a safe, 

neutral environment for exchange of children. 

Without the help of Sault Ste. Marie’s Victim 

Services Program, victims face a difficult “maze” 

trying to work with seven counties, the tribal 

government, and the federal system. The Victim 

Services Program has experience navigating 

through this jurisdictional maze successfully and 

works hard to maintain good working relationships with all local jurisdictions, including the 

seven counties, state, and tribe, and various law 

enforcement agencies, including the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation (FBI). To further 

strengthen these relationships, a coalition of tribal, state, and federal representatives was recently 

established to address jurisdictional issues such as 

protection orders. Members of the coalition are 

committed to helping victims and meet quarterly 

to address recognition of cross-jurisdictional 

orders. 

The victim services program credits its staff for 

their hard work in accomplishing the difficult 

task of successfully prosecuting child sexual abuse 

offenders. Recently, two federal cases resulted in 

sending one offender to prison for 11 years and 

another for 17 years. The advocacy services provided by the victim services program played a significant role in these convictions. Advocates do 

not pressure victims to follow through with the 

criminal justice system, but they do provide support and access to all options, including prosecution. In addition, advocates assist victims during 

interviews with law enforcement, keep the victim 

informed of the status of court cases, and serve as 

a liaison with prosecutors during tense times. 

Without the advocates, many victims would likely feel unable to participate in a confusing judicial system. Everyone plays an important role in 

the process, but the victim-witness advocates are 

a large reason for the success of the two federal 

convictions. In recognition of their instrumental 

role in the criminal justice process, two victim 

services program advocates recently received Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. 
The victim services program at the Sault Ste. 

Marie Tribe always keeps the focus on the victims 

of crime. Victims set their own goals, and the 

program helps them reach those goals. Success is 

measured by the ability of each victim to find 

safety and security in his or her own way. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Use culture as a resource. Using cultural 

resources vastly improves outcomes for 

Native American victims of crime. 

✦	 Create partnerships. It is vital to link with 

nontribal entities such as courts and law 

enforcement for victims of violence who 

need protection no matter where they travel. To implement the full faith and credit of 

tribal court judgments, cross-jurisdictional 

collaboration is key. 

Listen to the needs of the victims. Victim services programs can offer a number of different 

options to survivors of violence without pressuring them to take one particular course of action. 

Quotes 

Our advocates are good at helping victims 

identify what their options are, and what 

resources there are for them. That’s probably the 

best service we offer—helping them determine what 

their options are. When you’re in crisis, your mind 

is going in a hundred different directions. We’re 

there 100 percent for the victim. And that’s a new 

experience for them. There really hasn’t ever been 

anyone who has been just for the victims’ needs. 

That’s probably the best thing about any victim services program. This is something just for them. 

—Lori Jump 

Program Manager 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Victim Services Program 

I would strongly encourage all tribes to apply for 

funding for the development and implementation of 

a victim services program. Victim services is the one 

program that is dedicated to offering support to victims of crimes and assistance navigating through 

what can be a confusing system. Oftentimes the difference between a successful prosecution (justice!) 

and a lost case is having someone available to support the victim. By offering support, I am referring 

to all of the services that we can offer to victims: 

information and referral, emergency legal advocacy, 

court support, transportation, ongoing contact, case 

updates, and personal advocacy. 

—Lori Jump 

Program Manager 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Victim Services Program 

13 

Sault Ste. Marie 

Tribe of 

Chippewa Indians 
Founded: 


Service area:


Population:


Source of funding:


Contact:


Program Description 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation stretches through five counties in western 

North Carolina, through rugged and remote areas 

of diverse terrain. In addressing the needs of its 

members, the tribe partnered with state and 

county agencies that were often unaware of the 

cultural traditions and issues that affected investigations. At the Heart-to-Heart Child Advocacy 

Center, “kids have rights, too!” Heart-to-Heart is 

a program that focuses on providing comprehensive evaluation and services to abused children 

on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina. 

The center’s goal is to “stand for children,” and it 

uses a holistic approach to prevent children from 

being further victimized in the legal system. 

Through the services Heart-to-Heart offers, Indian children’s rights on the Eastern Cherokee 

Reservation are protected and the children learn 

someone is there to support and help them 

through a difficult legal process and provide 

opportunities for healing. From the investigation 

Chapter 5 

Eastern Band of 


Cherokee Indians


Heart-to-Heart Child Advocacy Center 

Cherokee, North Carolina 

1998


56,688 acres in western North Carolina


tribal enrollment is approximately 12,500


federal, tribal


Regina Rosario, Director


Heart-to-Heart Child Advocacy Center


P.O. Box 673


Cherokee, NC 28179


828–497–7477


Fax: 828–497–7479


Lori Jump


Program Manager


Sault Ste. Marie Tribe Victim Services Program


to testifying in court to the healing process,


Heart-to-Heart stands for children.


The seeds of Heart-to-Heart began when Regina


Rosario, a criminal investigator for the Eastern


Band of Cherokee Indians, became concerned


that cases of abused and/or neglected children


were not being prosecuted consistently. Rosario


attended training for Child Advocacy Centers


(CACs) and decided that such a program was


needed on the Cherokee Reservation. The CAC


model is designed to establish a child-friendly set­


ting for the forensic examination and interview


and uses a multidisciplinary team approach to


minimize the number of times a child is inter-


viewed and to ensure that those involved in the


child’s life are working together. This approach


provides an opportunity to help the child


through the trauma of abuse and a safe and


secure environment where healing can begin.


CACs have been in place in non-Indian com­


munities for quite some time, but the model


needed to be adapted to meet the needs of tribal


15 
16 

communities and children. In addition, multiple 

jurisdictions and agencies involved with crimes 

against Indian children had to make a commitment to work together. At Heart-to-Heart, tribal 

and federal law enforcement, tribal child protective services, prosecution, mental health, and 

medical and educational agencies come together 

under one roof as a multidisciplinary team 

(MDT) to coordinate their responses to child victims and witnesses. Heart-to-Heart provides for 

child interviews and victim support by MDT or 

staff members who are familiar with the culture 

and the child’s community. For example, Rosario 

works with the FBI agents assigned to the case 

and attends all forensic interviews. She ensures 

that interviews are done in a way that respects 

the child. 

Comprehensive Services 

Heart-to-Heart services extend beyond the forensic interview process. Staff members continue to 

work with children if they have to appear in 

court, which can be a traumatic experience. To 

ensure continuity, each child is prepared for the 

possible court appearance by advocates who have 

already been involved with the child. The children visit the empty courtroom and are told 

about the people who will be in attendance and 

their roles, and what to expect at the hearing. 

This tour helps the children gain confidence 

so they can tell people in the court setting what 

happened to them. The advocate also goes to 

court with each child who has come through the 

CAC. The Heart-to-Heart staff provide the necessary support to help the child talk about the 

abuse in open court, and then to begin the healing process. 

By providing a therapist on their staff to provide 

emergency as well as ongoing counseling for children, Heart-to-Heart also ensures that each child 

is helped through the healing process. Other programs operated out of the center include 

✦ Criminal investigation. 

✦ Case management. 

✦ Victim services coordination. 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

✦	 Counseling for nonoffending family 

members. 

✦ Teen counseling. 

✦ Support groups. 

✦ Community education and training. 

✦ Short-term therapy. 

✦ Stress management. 

✦ Anger management. 

✦ Crisis intervention. 

The comprehensive “wrap-around” approach 

allows Heart-to-Heart to focus on all aspects of 

abuse—from prevention and healing to stopping 

the perpetrator. The emphasis at Heart-to-Heart 

on extended services for the child and members 

of the child’s support system and family members 

is exemplary and provides a model for other 

tribes. 

Protecting Confidentiality 

One of the most important aspects of Heartto-Heart is that it has established a reputation 

among tribal members of protecting confidentiality, making it a safe place to talk about private 

matters. Policies and procedures are in place to 

ensure that children can feel safe when they disclose their abuse experience. Heart-to-Heart 

believes that confidentiality is key to helping the 

children heal. At the same time, the interagency 

coordination that is necessary to complete investigations, proceed with prosecution, and provide 

support to the family requires sharing information 

at the CAC. To this end, memorandums of 

understanding (MOUs) are in place to establish 

how and when information can be shared. 

An important component of the Heart-to-Heart 

Center is coordination and collaboration with 

the local federal prosecutor. With the support 

and enthusiasm of the current Assistant U.S. 

Attorney (AUSA) on the MDT, cases are being 

prosecuted that would not have been prior to the 

development of Heart-to-Heart. Through the 
efforts of the team, a strong message is being sent 

to child sexual abuse offenders that abuse will not 

be tolerated, and that they will be held accountable for their actions. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Adapt already existing models to fit the 

community. The Child Advocacy Model 

can be adapted to fit the particular needs 

and traditions of a tribal program and 

government. 

✦	 Work with prosecutors to send a strong message to perpetrators that child abuse will not 

be tolerated. 

✦	 Protect victim privacy. MOUs are critical to 

protect victim privacy and confidentiality, 

especially when interagency communication 

is necessary. 

Quotes 

Our main goal is to take care of the children 

first. 

—Regina Rosario 

Director 

Heart-to-Heart Child Advocacy Center 

I tell these children, 'We’re going to walk you 

through the courtroom, we’re going to tell you what 

you have to do, and we’re going to be there for you 

through the whole process.' It gives them more confidence to get up there and say what happened to 

them. 

—Regina Rosario 

Director 

Heart-to-Heart Child Advocacy Center 

17 

Eastern Band of 

Cherokee Indians 
Chapter 6


19 

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma 

Jurisdictional Challenges 

Because the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma does not 

currently operate its own tribal court, any criminal actions that occur in Indian Country are 

prosecuted in the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Code 

of Federal Regulations (CFR) court system. The 

staff at the Violence-Free Living Program have 

developed a strong relationship with the CFR 

prosecutor, and he sits on the Violence-Free 

Living Program Advisory Board. The Advisory 

Board meets monthly, and includes the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs (BIA) chief of police and a criminal investigator. 

Because of the unique “checkerboard” tribal jurisdiction in the Anadarko area, many of the crime 

victims who seek assistance from the program 

were actually victimized outside of Indian Country. The crimes that do not occur within Indian 

Country are heard in Oklahoma county courts. 

Due to the large service area, the staff at the center collaborate with multiple levels of partners 

and agencies. 

Unique Partnerships 

The collaboration between the tribe and the 

law school took several years to build, but both 

Apache Violence-Free Living Program 

Anadarko, Oklahoma 

1995 

a 7-county area in Oklahoma 

total population 194,130; Native American 

14,350 

federal, private donations, fundraisers 

Shelley Miller, Director 

Apache Violence-Free Living Program 

P.O. Box 1220 

Anadarko, OK 73005 

405–247–9495 

Fax: 405–247–5579 

E-mail: vaiw@caddoelectric.net 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

The Apache Violence-Free Living Program is a 

government agency of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, and it provides services to victims of 

domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking 

throughout a seven-county area in south central 

Oklahoma. Any victim—Indian or non-Indian— 

may seek confidential assistance from the program. In addition to victim advocacy and 

counseling, the program offers financial assistance, transportation to court and shelter, and 

referrals to various other community agencies. 

More recently, the program has developed a partnership with Oklahoma City University School 

of Law to provide free civil legal assistance to 

victims. 

Though operating with a small staff of three, the 

Violence-Free Living Program provides a wide 

range of services for women and children who are 

escaping violent situations. With two law offices 

offering civil legal assistance, one in Anadarko 

and one in Oklahoma City, more victims have 

access to the services. The program has also 

developed a positive relationship with the local 

judiciary, leading to increased collaboration 

between the court system and victim advocates. 
20 

partners report tremendous rewards from the partnership. The partnership with Oklahoma City 

University has resulted in additional assistance to 

victims—namely, legal representation in local 

state and CFR courts for women who have been 

battered and their children. The relationship is 

mutually beneficial. The Violence-Free Living 

Program is playing an active role in helping a 

new generation of attorneys develop sensitivity 

to victims’ issues. All law students who represent 

Native American victims through this partnership receive several hours of training to teach 

them to understand the dynamics of violent victimization and the special issues facing victims of 

domestic violence. The staff at the Violence-Free 

Living Program assist in providing this training to 

law students, and they play an ongoing role in 

overseeing the cases in which law students have 

become involved. 

The law students in the partnership with the 

Apache Tribe report a high satisfaction with the 

program. Not only do the law students receive 

hands-on training in representing Indian people 

in very important cases, but they also learn about 

the strengths of the tribal community and the 

individual victims they represent. Recently, a 

graduate of the law school applied for and 

received a job at the program to continue the 

work she started as a law student. 

Developing New Services 

The numbers of victims served by the ViolenceFree Living Program have been steadily increasing over the past few years, including many 

referrals from the local vocational-technical 

school. The most accessed services are direct 

advocacy and financial assistance. Transportation 

and court accompaniment are also in high 

demand. With the increased number of referrals, 

the program has faced additional challenges to 

meet all victims’ needs. At this time, free transportation is limited to trips to shelter, support 

groups or counseling, and court appearances due 

to high demand for help. However, if a victim 

does not feel comfortable meeting the advocate at the program’s main offices in 

Anadarko, the advocate will meet the 

victim in an alternate location. 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

To supplement their grant funding, the ViolenceFree Living Program has fundraising events that 

serve both to increase available resources and 

educate the community about victim issues and 

services. Staff members are cognizant of the need 

to develop sustainable programs and are developing creative ways to bring additional dollars to 

the program. 

The next important goal for the program is to 

develop a tribally based shelter. Currently, the 

Apache Tribe transports victims who need a safe 

place to stay to shelters located at least 35 miles 

away. Many victims are unable to relocate, even 

temporarily, due to employment and/or school. A 

local tribal shelter would allow victims to maintain connections to the community and lessen 

the disruption in their lives. The staff envisions a 

“one-stop” center for victims of crime—a single 

location where victims could come to receive 

shelter, counseling, financial assistance, legal 

advice, and help with other needs all under one 

roof. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Work on cultivating relationships with all 

the criminal law jurisdictions in the service 

area. Include prosecutors and judges from 

neighboring jurisdictions on the advisory 

board. 

✦	 Develop relationships with local schools 

and agencies. Encourage them to refer victims of crime to the program. 

✦	 When partnering with a local college or 

university, ensure that all the key players are 

involved from the beginning. By including 

all relevant parties and authorities early, 

delays in implementation will be less likely. 

✦	 Collaborate with other programs. Combining services, such as victim advocacy and 

legal assistance, in the same facility makes it 

easier for victims to access resources. 

Quotes 

There are those families who actually make it. Once 

you go back and talk about all the work we’ve done, 
the things we’ve accomplished, it makes it worth it. 

So many different lives have been touched. 

—Shelley Miller


Director


Apache Violence-Free Living Center


The law students have been such a 

nice mix. We’ve watched them grow as 

they’ve struggled with all of these issues. Just 

knowing that we’re turning out 45 law students 

a year with experience and knowledge about 

domestic violence is a good feeling. 

—Kelly Gaines Stoner 

Professor of Law 

Oklahoma City University 

21 

Apache Tribe of 

Oklahoma 
Chapter 7 

The Navajo Nation 

The Navajo Nation Victim Assistance Program 

Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations 

Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

Established under the Navajo Nation Division of 

Public Safety in 1989, the Navajo Nation Victim 

Assistance Program (NNVAP) is designed to provide information, support, and assistance to victims of crime on the Navajo Nation. NNVAP 

responds to major crimes including assault, homicide, and child sexual abuse. 

Advocates from NNVAP are available to respond 

directly to crime scenes. While law enforcement 

officers are processing the scene, an advocate will 

comfort the victims, explain what the officers are 

doing, and prepare the victims for questioning. In 

the days and weeks following the crime, advocates help the victims cope with issues related to 

the crime, following up with letters, telephone 

calls, and/or even a home visit. After a crime, the 

victim advocates can provide victims with available services, including crisis intervention, emotional support, explanation of court proceedings, 

1989 

16.2 million acres in Arizona, New Mexico, 


Utah


157,716


federal, state, tribal


Christine J. Butler, Victim Advocate 

Tuba City District 

P.O. Box 1168


Tuba City, AZ 86045


928–283–3132


Fax: 405–247–5579


Sandi Wilson, Victim Advocate 

Crown Point District 

P.O. Box 928


Crownpoint, NM 87313


505–786–2302


and referrals to other social service agencies. In 

addition, the program has English-Navajo interpretation services available for victims and their 

families. 

Geographic Isolation 

Geographically, the Navajo Nation is the largest 

Indian reservation in the United States, stretching into portions of three states—Arizona, New 

Mexico, and Utah. Due to the large size of the 

reservation, the five program advocates must 

travel long distances to provide services to the 

many victims in need of support. Transportation 

is one of the biggest challenges for the program. 

At certain times of the year, many roads on the 

reservation are impassable. The advocates hope 

to acquire four-wheel drive vehicles in the future 

so they can reach more victims. 

NNVAP services include visiting victims in the 

hospital, transporting them to federal and tribal 

23 
24 

court on and off the reservation, and assisting 

victims in applying for temporary restraining 

orders. The long distances that must be traveled 

to provide these services are a challenge for the 

small staff. Recruiting volunteers is critical to 

avoid staff burnout and increase the number of 

victims who can access services. NNVAP provides training to all its volunteers. Training 

includes crisis intervention, court-related services, administrative duties, and community 

education. 

NNVAP staff give presentations to the community, service providers, schools, and even local businesses. These presentations explain the criminal 

justice system, victimology, victimization, and 

victim compensation. They have helped NNVAP 

to open people's eyes and to let them know what 

the program does. Awareness is critical. 

Financial Assistance 

The victim compensation component is extremely important to victims; NNVAP helps victims 

understand the process they must go through to 

receive this compensation. NNVAP advocates 

also work closely with state compensation offices 

to make the process easier for Navajo Nation citizens. Each state system has different policies and 

procedures that govern the particular victim 

compensation program. NNVAP provides information to victims about the state’s victim compensation program and assists victims of violent 

crime in completing applications. The types of 

reparations victims can seek include healthrelated expenses (for medical, dental, and mental 

health care) and costs of funerals, lost wages, eyewear, and, particularly important for NNVAP, 

Native healing ceremonies. 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

Not all states provide compensation for traditional healing ceremonies for victims, but Arizona 

and New Mexico do include medicine people as 

allowable recipients of victim assistance. Apache 

County in Arizona was the first in the United 

States to submit a compensation application that 

identified these healing costs specifically. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Identify transportation needs for rural communities and recruit volunteers from different regions of the reservation to assist with 

program objectives. 

✦	 Provide ongoing training to different agencies to recruit volunteers. 

✦	 Identify financial resources that can be used 

to support traditional healing practices for 

victims of crime. 

Quotes 

Our staff and volunteers are here to provide information, support, and assistance to victims of violent 

crime. 

—Christine J. Butler


Victim Advocate


The Navajo Nation Victim Assistance Program

Chapter 8 

Oglala Lakota Nation


Oglala Lakota Court Appointed Special 

Advocate Program 

Pine Ridge, South Dakota 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

The Oglala Lakota Court Appointed Special 

Advocate (CASA) Program, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, is dedicated to ensuring 

that each child has a voice in court and that no 

child is forgotten. CASA volunteers appear in 

tribal courts in the towns of Kyle and Pine Ridge 

on the reservation. Thanks to the dedication of 

the five-member board and the vision of the 

executive director, Oglala Lakota CASA has 

developed into a well-respected and highly 

valued service to abused and neglected Oglala 

children. 

The court appointed special advocate model has 

been in place in state and county court systems 

since the 1980s. Since 1995, with support from 

the National CASA Association, these programs 

have begun to emerge in tribal court systems as 

well. The purpose of the CASA program is to 

exclusively provide a voice for abused and neglected children in the court system. Under the 

national model, community volunteers are trained and then assigned to represent specific children involved in abuse and neglect proceedings 

in court. The Oglala Lakota CASA volunteers 

1997 

2.8 million acres in rural South Dakota (Pine 


Ridge Indian Reservation)


35,000; tribal enrollment 17,775


federal, National CASA


Arlana Bettelyoun, Executive Director 

Oglala Lakota CASA 

P.O. Box 5014


Pine Ridge, SD 57770


605–867–5643


Fax: 605–867–2488


are officially appointed to represent children in 

Oglala Lakota Tribal Court. In addition, through 

a Children’s Justice Act grant, some volunteers 

have received special training to accompany 

Oglala child sexual abuse victims and child witnesses in proceedings before federal court. With 

their pool of volunteers representing each district 

on the reservation, Oglala Lakota CASA served 

approximately 40 to 50 children in tribal court in 

2001. 

Community Connections 

Arlana Bettelyoun, Executive Director of the 

program since 1998, realized that communitybased Lakota volunteers were the key to the success of this tribal CASA program. Despite the 

geographical challenge of covering the entire 

reservation as the program’s only staff person, 

Bettelyoun knew that personal contact was essential to assure victims and their families and 

neighbors that the CASA efforts were credible 

and respectful. Thus, Bettelyoun, using her personal vehicle, drove to each of the many different 

communities within the reservation. She shared 

the purpose of CASA and the important need of 

each child to have a voice in court. Many people 

25 
26 

expressed interest in becoming CASA volunteers, but resources were limited and the required 

travel to and from court was a challenge. Some 

people did not even have cars, much less funds to 

pay for the needed mileage. But the volunteers 

saw the special need of the children and, in the 

tradition of the Lakota people, who believe children are sacred and their spirits must be protected, many community members still stepped 

forward to help. Even those who did not have 

cars wanted to help. Some volunteers without 

transportation were paired with those who could 

help transport them. Some elders or couples 

shared the casework with a partner to enhance 

the involvement with the child and the case 

issues. In spite of the early challenges, the Lakota 

people continued to express support for the program, and encouraged Bettelyoun to pursue funding to expand its capacity to represent children. 

Eventually, the CASA program obtained funds 

that allowed reimbursement to volunteers for 

their mileage costs to make home visits, meet 

with service providers and case managers, and 

appear in court—all necessary activities in their 

roles as child advocates. In addition, new funds 

made possible some specialized training opportunities to increase the skills of CASA volunteers. 

Today, the program has 12 active volunteers in 

addition to the executive director and the child 

advocacy coordinator. The dedication of the volunteers has not gone unnoticed. In October 

2001, the CASA Tribal Court Advisory Committee and the National CASA staff joined the 

Oglala Lakota CASA Program at the 15th 

Annual Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota. 

During the powwow, tribal CASA volunteers 

from Pine Ridge were recognized with an Honor 

Dance. 

Special Features 

In 2001, Oglala Lakota CASA hosted a reservationwide conference on child sexual abuse and 

forensic interview training for investigators. 

The “Wakanyeja Ob Kinanjinpi Nan Awanwicaglakapi” (Stand Up for the Children and 

Watch Out for Them) event had nearly 200 

participants from a wide range of tribal 

programs, tribal courts, and law 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

enforcement, and representatives from federal 

agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office and 

the U.S. District Court. This event served to 

elevate awareness and increase collaboration 

between programs serving Oglala children and 

families. 

Oglala Lakota CASA staff are also active in the 

Oglala Oyate Iwicakiyapi Okolakiciye (OOIO) 

(Society to Strengthen Children and Families)— 

a network of service providers, community 

groups, and individuals committed to promoting 

the welfare and best interests of children and 

families on the reservation. OOIO works on tribal legislation, policy development, and program 

and service improvement. One effort that resulted from the interagency work was the development of a special mental health service for 

CASA children. Through a cooperative relationship with Cangleska, Inc., an Oglala nonprofit 

service for domestic violence and sexual assault 

victims, CASA cases are staffed with a Lakota 

psychologist. The CASA program currently has a 

position available for a staff mental health counselor to serve the needs of CASA children, but it 

has been difficult to fill. 

The Oglala Lakota CASA staff and volunteers 

provide a wide range of support for children. The 

credibility of the program is evident in the fact 

that the program has become a referral center 

for all types of issues relating to child abuse. Although most of the referrals to CASA come from 

the court, CASA is increasingly contacted by 

community members and family members who 

are reporting possible abuse, and extended family 

members contact CASA because they want to 

support children in tribal court actions. CASA 

staff provide information, education, and referrals 

to anyone needing information about child abuse 

and neglect. 

Oglala Lakota CASA continues its outreach to 

the community to recruit volunteers and to educate the community about the serious problem of 

child abuse. Volunteer training is held in different districts of the tribe to reach out to and 

recruit community members. Not every volunteer 

who receives training remains active, but the 

training they receive is valuable nonetheless. 
Oglala Lakota CASA has also developed public 

service announcements (PSAs) for both radio 

and print media, such as the Well Nations magazine. This keeps the issue of CASA and the 

needs of abused Lakota children in the public 

consciousness. 

Planning for the Future 

Executive Director Bettelyoun serves on the 

South Dakota State CASA Board; Child Advocacy Coordinator Bev Tuttle and members of the 

CASA Board are active in many efforts both 

locally and nationally that address the needs of 

tribal children. These grassroots efforts and commitments are the foundation for future goals. 

Oglala Lakota CASA’s goals for the future 

include continuing to develop the pool of Lakota 

volunteers so that eventually every child will 

“have a voice” in the judicial system. The program also is seeking to improve the justice system 

to better meet the needs of Oglala Lakota children. The program is involved through OOIO 

with revisions and improvements to the tribal 

children’s code and development of interagency 

protocols and agreements. The goal of these 

efforts is to develop a coordinated community 

response to child abuse that will include a “circle” of investigators, prosecutors, and victim service providers. The foundation of the system will 

be the Lakota philosophy that “children are 

sacred.” 

Oglala Lakota CASA began as a struggling nonprofit and has developed into a well-respected 

and trusted organization that ensures each child 

has a voice in court and helps the child along the 

path of healing. With the strength and determination of its staff and volunteers, and the support 

of its board of directors and the tribal government, Oglala Lakota CASA will continue to 

grow and to improve the lives of Oglala Lakota 

children. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Build on community strengths. Lakota people have tremendous commitment to their 

children and there is huge interest and 

support in the community for helping the 

children. 

✦ Integrate traditional practices. 

Recognize that cultural and ceremonial needs of the children must be 

integrated into the services, especially 

in the courtroom. 

✦ Build respect by hiring Native staff and 

recruiting Native volunteers. 

✦ Link victim services to the judicial system. 

Oglala Lakota CASA has gained the respect 

and trust of the Oglala Lakota judiciary 

because of the important role it plays in the 

courtroom. 

✦ Coordinate and collaborate. The Oglala 

Oyate Iwicakiyapi Okolakiciye (Society to 

Strengthen Children and Families) represents a reservationwide network of agencies 

and programs working together to address 

problems, promote healing, and bring about 

change. 

✦ Engage leadership. The Oglala Sioux Tribal 

government support is fundamental to the 

growth and development of the Oglala 

Lakota CASA Program. 

Quotes 

We have never had problems finding volunteers who 

wanted to be the 'voice for the child' in our tribal 

court cases. Lakota people have a huge interest in 

their children, and have made serious commitments 

to reaching out to protect children and promote 

healing for the abused child. 

—Arlana Bettelyoun 

Executive Director 

Oglala Lakota CASA 

We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we 

borrow it from our children. 

—Tasunke Witko 

Crazy Horse 

Let us put our minds together and see what a 

difference we can make for our children. 

—Chief Sitting Bull 

27 

Oglala Lakota 

Nation 
Chapter 9 

Osage Nation 

Osage Nation Counseling Center 

Pawhuska, Oklahoma 

Founded:


Service area:


Population:


Source of funding:


Contact:


Program Description 

The Osage Nation Counseling Center (ONCC) 

is a “one-stop haven” for assisting victims on the 

Osage Nation Reservation. Between 300 and 400 

adults and children who have been victims of 

crime receive services from ONCC each year. 

The center’s victim services staff comprise 10 staff 

members, including counselors, advocates, coordinators, and monitors. The center also has a 

tribal domestic violence law enforcement officer 

on staff. 

Located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on the Osage 

Nation Reservation, ONCC currently operates 

the only domestic violence shelter in the state 

designed specifically for Native victims. However, 

ONCC does not limit its services to tribal members. ONCC provides victim services to people 

throughout Osage County (Oklahoma’s largest 

county), including many non-Indians. In addition to providing assistance to individual clients 

in crisis situations, ONCC provides education 

and awareness to community members about 

issues of domestic violence and related topics. 

1995 

approximately 1.5 million acres in north central 

Oklahoma 

tribal enrollment is approximately 15,760; 

service area includes more than 40,000 people 

federal, tribal 

Rosemary Shaw, Director


Osage Nation Counseling Center


518 Leahy


Pawhuska, OK 74056


918–287–5422


Fax: 918–287–1096


Comprehensive Services 

Patty McHenry, Victim Service Advocate at 

ONCC, reports that many victims are pleasantly 

surprised at the extent of services provided by 

ONCC, including 

✦	 Crisis intervention. 

✦	 Counseling. 

✦	 Advocacy. 

✦	 Protection orders. 

✦	 Short-term emergency shelter. 

✦	 Long-term housing referrals. 

✦	 Support groups. 

✦	 Financial assistance. 

✦	 Legal assistance (for both state and tribal 

court systems). 

✦	 Relocation. 

29 
30 

✦ Inpatient drug/alcohol treatment designed 

for victims of violence. 

ONCC victim advocates are an important part of 

the criminal justice process. The advocates are 

trained to talk to victims, explain the judicial 

process, and prepare them for court. Advocates 

also help victims obtain protection orders. In 

2002, ONCC advocates helped victims obtain 

more than 280 protection orders. ONCC has a 

unique relationship with the court system; victim 

advocates have an open line of communication 

with staff in the local court system. 

In addition to victim advocacy in the legal system, ONCC offers professional counseling to 

assist victims in processing trauma. Counselors 

encourage victims of violence to talk about their 

experiences. For victims who have a history of 

drug or alcohol problems, ONCC services also 

include substance abuse counseling. Victims who 

have a substance abuse problem can talk to counselors who provide treatment and peer support in 

an appropriate context. For instance, counselors 

can provide referrals to an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group that specializes in victim 

issues. 

Connecting to the FaithBased Community 

ONCC services include numerous connections to 

the local faith-based community. Many victims 

who seek services at ONCC have a background 

in traditional Osage spiritual beliefs and/or a local 

church community. Clients can develop an individual plan of working with the faith-based community. For clients who are seeking traditional 

Native spiritual connections, sweat lodge ceremonies, pipe ceremonies, and talking circles are 

available. ONCC also has good relationships 

with area churches. Shelter residents who want 

to attend church can receive free transportation 

to and from Sunday and Wednesday services. In 

addition, local churches have been supportive of 

the shelter program and often provide donations that are needed to successfully run the 

shelter. 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

Crossing Jurisdictional 

Boundaries 

Because of the unique jurisdictional issues in 

Oklahoma, ONCC must work with many different entities to provide comprehensive services to 

victims. ONCC has initiated many memorandums of understanding and memorandums of 

agreement with county and local governments to 

prevent gaps in services. The teamwork and collaboration have resulted in a system wherein victims can receive seamless access to services and 

resources. The tribal government maintains a 

strong sense of sovereignty through its partnerships with Osage County and other state 

agencies. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Collect data. The Osage Nation Counseling 

Center has been able to show concrete 

results by using demographics and statistics, 

while still protecting victim confidentiality. 

✦	 Make effective use of tribal sovereignty. 

Sovereignty and cross-jurisdictional collaboration are not mutually exclusive. 

✦	 Diversify funding sources. ONCC has developed long-range strategy and sustainability 

plans to strengthen the lasting legacy of the 

programs. 

✦	 Encourage faith-based activities that support 

victims in healing. 

Quotes 

Learn how to make the grants work together. Be 

critical in how your programs complement one 

another. Collaboration is important. 

—Rosemary Shaw 


Director


Osage Nation Counseling Center


Advocates need to know how to identify a victim 

who is struggling with a drug or alcohol problem so 

that they can receive treatment. 

—Rosemary Shaw


Director


Osage Nation Counseling Center

Chapter 10 

Pawnee Nation


Advocate Program 

Pawnee, Oklahoma 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

The Pawnee Tribal Court Appointed Special 

Advocate (CASA) Program (Pawnee CASA) 

is a satellite program of the Tulsa County, Oklahoma, CASA program (Tulsa CASA, Inc.), and 

it serves children in both the Pawnee Tribal 

Courts and the Pawnee County state courts. 

The jurisdictional challenges for cases involving 

abused and neglected tribal children in Oklahoma have required a creative approach to providing advocates for these children. Due to the 

unique approach of Pawnee CASA, when a case 

is transferred from state to tribal court, or if the 

child is on the reservation but involved in a state 

court proceeding, the Pawnee CASA volunteer 

follows the child. Although judges, district attorneys, and social service providers may change, 

the CASA volunteer remains the one constant 

in the child’s life and follows the case whether it 

is in state or tribal court. 

In general, CASA advocates or volunteers are 

lay people who are assigned by judges to represent the best interests of the child before the 

court. The volunteers play a crucial role, acting 

as the eyes and ears of the judge by gathering 

31 

information about the child and family. Pawnee 

CASA fulfills this role superbly and its volunteers have become a valuable asset to the court 

proceedings. Both state and tribal judges have 

indicated that they truly rely upon the Pawnee 

CASA reports to ensure that accurate information will inform the court about the family situation and the needs of the child. 

Volunteers: The Heart 

of CASA 

Pawnee CASA’s success in representing the 

Pawnee children is primarily due to its hardworking and dedicated volunteers. As with all 

CASA programs, the advocates are trained volunteers who give their valuable time and hearts 

to the children. With a paid staff of one full-time 

and one part-time person, Pawnee CASA 

relies heavily on its invaluable volunteers, and 

currently has about 20 Indian and non-Indian 

volunteers. Pawnee CASA is also developing 

innovative partnerships among its volunteers, 

including having “husband and wife” teams and 

pairing a Pawnee elder with a younger CASA 

volunteer to provide more comprehensive 

Pawnee Tribal Court Appointed Special 

1998 

approximately 900 acres in north central 

Oklahoma 

tribal enrollment is approximately 2,500 

National CASA 

Helen Norris, Director 

Pawnee CASA 

Pawnee County Courthouse 

500 Harrison 

Pawnee, OK 74058 

918–762–3776 

Fax: 918–762–2498 
32 

cultural information for the court. Pawnee 

CASA makes sure its volunteers are wellprepared to serve the children and the state and 

tribal courts. The volunteer training includes 

more than how to speak up for a child—it recognizes that the best volunteer is familiar with both 

state and tribal court systems. It includes training 

on courtroom procedures in state and tribal court, 

social services, juvenile court, cultural issues, 

advocacy, and how to testify in court. After volunteers complete the intense training, they are 

sworn in as officers of both tribal and state courts. 

Recently, in recognition of exemplary efforts, a 

Pawnee CASA husband and wife team received 

the Oklahoma CASA of the Year award. 

Pawnee CASA Director Helen Norris is active 

in outreach and education in the community to 

encourage awareness of child abuse issues and 

seek new volunteers. She has been innovative in 

her approach to make CASA a visible service in 

the community by sponsoring booths at local 

fairs, providing CASA fans for use at powwows, 

and placing CASA posters throughout the community. Pawnee CASA has also advertised in the 

tribal newsletter and compiled materials to ensure 

that state and tribal courts are aware of its presence. The local newspaper was present to cover 

the swearing in of new CASA volunteers. 

Customizing the 

CASA Model 

Pawnee CASA has served as a model program 

for other new tribal CASA programs across the 

Nation, and Norris has made important contributions to customizing National CASA resources 

for tribal use. She is currently serving on the 

National CASA curriculum development committee, which prepared core materials for training 

CASA volunteers nationally. Norris has customized the National CASA materials to provide 

a culturally relevant training for the Pawnee 

CASA volunteers. For example, Norris adapted 

the training materials that called for group discussions to allow more individualized participation. This change made the materials more 

appropriate for Pawnee culture because 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

traditional Pawnee women do not often speak 

openly in large group settings. Norris has shared 

her experiences with curriculum developers to 

ensure that mandatory materials are adaptable to 

tribal situations. The tribal adaptations enable 

recruitment and retention of volunteers because 

the materials are provided in a manner respectful 

of each tribe’s unique ways. 

The primary goal of the Pawnee CASA is to provide a CASA volunteer for every Native American child in state and tribal court in Pawnee 

County. The program has developed a unique 

approach to the jurisdictional problems by coordinating the county and tribal CASA programs 

to work together. As the Pawnee CASA intensively reaches out to recruit volunteers, provide 

well-rounded training, and maintain dedicated 

staff and volunteers, there is no doubt that in the 

very near future every Native child in Pawnee 

County will have a CASA volunteer to represent 

the child’s physical, emotional, and cultural 

needs in the judicial system. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Develop cultural approaches to recruitment, 

training, and retention of volunteers. 

✦	 Promote cooperation between state and 

tribal courts. 

✦	 Look for and access resources from any local 

or national sources involved with protection 

and advocacy for children. 

✦	 Access support and training from the 

National CASA Association. 

Quotes 

Our tribal council recognized the need and backed 

us 100 percent. 

—Helen Norris


Director


Pawnee Tribal Court Appointed 


Special Advocate Program


The most rewarding part about this is knowing that 

our Indian children have Indian CASAs who are 
trained and who speak for them. Our children 

deserve the best, and they’re getting the best. 

—Helen Norris


Director


Pawnee Tribal Court Appointed 


Special Advocate Program


National CASA is wonderful about 

supporting tribes. Their help has been 

amazing. 

—Helen Norris 

Director 

Pawnee Tribal Court Appointed 

Special Advocate Program 

33 

Pawnee Nation 
Chapter 11


35 

Turtle Mountain Chippewa 

victimizing behavior. In 1997, nine deaths 

occurred at Turtle Mountain due to drunk driving. The fatalities increased to 12 in 1999. Each 

death has a rippling effect in the community as 

family members struggle with the aftermath of 

losing a loved one to a criminal act. 

Unfortunately, many of those who lose relatives 

to drunk driving end up suffering from depression. As tribes are losing more people at a high 

rate due to alcohol-related accidents, additional 

people are in need of victim services like those 

that MADD offers. TMM brings a sense of healing to the victims and their families and has been 

welcomed into all parts of the community. The 

chapter assists in holding memorials for lost relatives and has an annual 5-mile walk in their 

honor. Other activities TMM sponsors include 

family gatherings, picnics, and support groups. 

Faith-Based Connections 

Native American ceremonies can strengthen victims’ lives and inspire them to work for change. 

In its meetings, TMM includes discussion about 

God, faith, and spirituality. TMM incorporates 

Native American spirituality into its victim services, which include sweat lodge ceremonies. 

Turtle Mountain Mothers Against Drunk Driving 

Belcourt, North Dakota 

1999 

72,000-acre reservation in north central 

North Dakota 

approximately 15,000 tribal members reside in 

the Belcourt area 

not specified 

Sharon Parisien 

Safe Communities Program Director 

M.A.D.D. Chapter Organizer 

P.O. Box 900 

Belcourt, ND 58316 

E-mail: Sharpari@utma.com 

Founded: 

Service area: 

Population: 

Source of funding: 

Contact: 

Program Description 

The Turtle Mountain Mothers Against Drunk 

Driving (TMM) Chapter is located in Belcourt, 

North Dakota, a rural community located 100 

miles from Minot in the northwestern part of the 

state. The Turtle Mountain MADD Chapter was 

the first tribal MADD chapter in the United 

States. The chapter currently has nearly 200 

members. TMM serves as a support group for 

people who have lost relatives from drunk driving. Family members and friends can gather to 

talk, share, and meet with other victims of drunk 

driving to help with the pain and grief that 

comes from sudden, tragic loss. 

TMM can also provide support and services for 

survivors of alcohol-related accidents, many of 

whom have life-altering injuries. Services include 

counseling, financial assistance, and referrals to 

appropriate professionals in the community. 

From Tragedy to Healing 

Tribal member Sharon Parisien lost her 20-yearold son, Wayne, to a drunk driver in 1997. 

Parisien’s grief compelled her to build a community response to drunk driving and related 
36 

TMM also works with local churches and ministries to assist victims. Local churches will offer 

their facilities for services and prayers in the 

event of an alcohol-related accident fatality. The 

entire church community works to deal with a 

parishioner’s loss. When somebody in the community loses someone, the members of TMM 

often gather at a local church to pray and support 

each other through the loss. Working with the 

church communities limits the amount of isolation and disconnectedness that victims of crime 

often feel. 

Because Parisien and other TMM leaders have 

experienced the same kind of loss, they understand the unique issues and trauma that families 

face after being victimized by a drunk driver. The 

compassion that families exhibit to one another 

is a key component of TMM services. TMM 

works to ensure that a family who has experienced a recent fatality is connected with other 

families who have been dealing with their loss for 

many years. These experienced families can share 

their own stories and offer advice for how to cope 

with the weeks and months ahead. The families 

report that just having someone close by who 

understands the pain is a tremendous help. 

Community Connections 

Many victims and survivors of alcohol-related 

accidents have reported that they find solace and 

comfort as they become more active in the efforts 

to prevent future tragedies. Becoming proactive 

in the TMM educational programs gives many 

victims a sense of purpose in the midst of their 

traumatic loss. TMM works to educate the community about the dangers of drinking and driving, and many victims speak out about what has 

happened to their families. 

The community, in turn, benefits from TMM’s 

education and outreach activities. TMM hopes 

that these outreach activities will change attitudes toward driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and will prevent future 

victimization. TMM sends a message to the 

local community that no loss is acceptable— 

and that none of the victims of alcoholrelated accidents can ever be replaced. 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

TMM has used local and national media outlets 

to spread the message about the victimization 

caused by drunk driving. Parisien has been a 

guest on “Native American Calling,” a national 

radio program that has aired locally on station 

KEYA on two different occasions. On one occasion, after Parisien told the story of her son’s 

death, many listeners from around the nation 

called to share their experiences as well. 

The radio program had a tremendous impact on 

Native American families throughout the nation. 

Victims who spoke out on the air reported that 

they felt stronger after sharing their stories. TMM 

members are willing to share their stories and 

compassion to help others heal and allow their 

tears to lend strength to someone else. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Use the media. Turtle Mountain MADD 

has worked with national and local radio 

stations to spread the word about available 

services. 

✦	 Work with local faith-based communities. 

Local churches can be instrumental in helping families deal with grief and loss. 

✦	 Provide opportunities for victims to become 

community activists. By working to solve a 

difficult problem, families can become 

reconnected to the community. 

Quotes 

Our programs allow victims to come and deal with 

loss. There is something about tragedy or loss that 

brings people together. 

—Sharon Parisien


Safe Communities Program Director


Turtle Mountain Mothers Against Drunk Driving


MADD is here to support injured victims, help the 

bereaved, and assist with the judicial process. 

—National MADD Web site 
Chapter 12


37 

Rosebud Lakota Tribe 

women on the Rosebud Reservation, particularly 

the impact of violent victimization. This grassroots effort led to the establishment of the White 

Buffalo Calf Woman Society and the beginning 

of a new era of victim services on the reservation. 

Over the years, Black Bear’s work has earned 

national recognition and honors. Black Bear 

received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights 

Award in 2000 and was designated one of President George Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light” 

in 1988. Tillie was one of 10 individuals honored 

as founders of the domestic violence movement 

in the United States at the 1999 Millennium 

Conference in Chicago. She is also one of the 

founding mothers of the South Dakota Coalition 

Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 

and the National Coalition Against Domestic 

Violence. 

The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society has high 

visibility in the community. Many say that the 

“White Buffalo Calf Woman Society” has become a “household word.” People know about 

the society and what it (and the shelter) does. 

WBCWS puts information out to the community 

in newspapers and newsletters. It produces public 

service announcements (PSAs) on the local radio 

station. It is unusual to find a community member who has not heard of the program. 

White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc. 

Mission, South Dakota 

1977 

954,527 acres in south central South Dakota 

reservation population is approximately 12,800 

federal, private foundations 

Tillie Black Bear, Director 

WBCWS, Inc. 

P.O. Box 227 

Mission, SD 57555 

605–856–2317 

Fax: 605–856–2994 

E-mail: wbcws@gwtc.net 

Founded:


Service area:


Population:


Source of funding:


Contact:


Program Description 

In 2002, the White Buffalo Calf Woman’s Society (WBCWS) celebrated its 25th anniversary. 

During those 25 years, WBCWS has provided 

life-saving assistance, advocacy, and assurance to 

those who are in need. Today, WBCWS is a 

model of what grassroots organizing and strong 

leadership can achieve in a Native community. 

Located in Mission, South Dakota, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, WBCWS has the distinction of being the first battered women’s 

shelter for Native American women and the first 

shelter for women of color in the United States. 

Currently, WBCWS directly assists approximately 900 women and children each year, and helps 

countless others through outreach and education. 

Volunteers especially contribute to the shelter’s 

success. WBCWS provides a 24-hour crisis line 

and volunteers staff the line from 11 p.m. to 8 

a.m. This service ensures that WBCWS provides 

assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone who needs it. 

Strong Legacy 

In 1977, Director Tillie Black Bear and others 

began to explore the plight of Native American 
38 

Safety for Victims 

In the early years, WBCWS provided safe homes 

and motel rooms to victims of domestic violence 

and other crime. In 1980, the shelter moved into 

a rented facility that could house about 20 residents. In 1994, WBCWS purchased a building 

that was renovated in 1998. WBCWS can currently provide shelter for 45 people. 

Unlike some victim service providers, WBCWS 

does not have professional counselors on staff. 

The staff does not assume that victims of crime 

automatically need counseling. Instead, WBCWS 

offers advocacy and support for victims who need 

help getting back on their feet. If a particular victim desires, counseling can be obtained from the 

Indian Health Service (IHS), with whom 

WBCWS has a good working relationship. 

WBCWS offers a creative array of services, 

including 

✦ Support groups. 

✦ Transportation. 

✦ Teen women’s safety education. 

✦ Crisis line. 

✦ Advocacy (including personal, medical, 

legal, social services, educational, and 

housing). 

WBCWS has even helped people return to their 

original home if they are not from Rosebud. In 

one case, WBCWS assisted a young woman 

financially who had been the victim of crime and 

was living in an unsafe situation. WBCWS located a safe place for her to stay in a faraway state 

where she was able to return to her own community of origin with a sense of security. 

Administration and Logistics 

WBCWS currently has 18 staff members, mostly 

advocates, including legal advocates who help 

victims maneuver within the court systems, 

both tribal and state. WBCWS can pay for 

attorney fees for civil legal matters that 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

are related to victimization. About 85 percent of 

the cases are heard in tribal court, the other 15 

percent go to state court. 

Ninety percent of the victims who receive services from WBWCS are transported or referred by 

law enforcement. Approximately 60 percent are 

from the Rosebud Indian Reservation, 15 percent 

are from other indigenous nations, and 10 percent are non-Indian. In the State of South Dakota, WBCWS provides the second highest shelter 

days for victims. There is no limit on the length 

of time a victim can stay at the shelter. 

Over the years, WBCWS has been awarded a 

variety of grant aid from various public and private agencies in areas from restorative justice to 

disabilities. In 1995, WBCWS, in collaboration 

with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, was one of the 

original recipients of the Violence Against 

Women Act (VAWA) Grant Program. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has stipulated through resolutions that White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, 

Inc., is the primary agency that can access the 

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) 

monies on behalf of tribal members. 

WBCWS is a collaboration of many compassionate and committed people and programs. Program 

staff work with many people from inside and outside the community and take special interest in 

working with tribal elders to find potential solutions to the reservationwide issue of domestic 

violence. 

Outreach and Training 

In addition to providing shelter and assistance 

to victimized women and children, WBCWS 

provides multidisciplinary training on domestic 

violence and sexual assault for state and tribal 

agencies throughout South Dakota. Staff members give presentations at local schools, with special programs for kindergarten through 12th 

grade. 

The tribe produced protocols for training and 

staff development for tribal government staff. 

WBCWS also provides training to Rosebud 

Indian Reservation law enforcement personnel, 

prosecutors, and judges. Moreover, WBCWS 
maintains good relationships with other organizations throughout the state, including all nine 

reservations in South Dakota. These collaborative efforts have contributed to WBCWS’s 

success. 

WBCWS has initiated a partnership with IHS to 

receive a grant to develop screening tools and 

protocols to address domestic violence and/or 

sexual assault at Rosebud Indian Health Service. 

Keys to Success 

✦	 Develop public policies through creation of 

strong victim-centered tribal ordinances. 

✦	 Educate the community about the impact of 

violence on individuals. Help the tribal 

leaders become knowledgeable about the 

issues facing victims of violence. 

✦	 Incorporate traditional beliefs and cultural 

practices into the victim services arena. Traditional stories often contain strong statements about the rights of crime victims. 

✦	 Facilitate ongoing work with tribal elders. 

Include elders on the board of directors, and 

have them assist with cultural activities. 

✦ Encourage model leadership 

based on consensus decisionmaking. Develop leadership roles for 

women by training and sharing information on issues affecting tribal women. 

Quotes 

Many winter-counts ago, a wakan (sacred) woman 

appeared among the Lakota people, bearing with her 

a truly marvelous gift. She was called the White 

Buffalo Calf Woman, and her gift is still with the 

Lakota people today—the sacred Cannunpa (pipe). 

The Pipe represents unity, truth, understanding and 

peace to all who practice the Teachings of the Pipe. 

The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society strives to 

follow the teachings that were given to the Oyate 

(people) by the White Buffalo Calf Woman. Our 

goals are peace, understanding and improved quality 

of life for all people. Only if there is spiritual peace 

and focused determination within our hearts can we 

hope to share these goals with others. That through 

learning and caring, through desire and hard work, 

through concern and inspiration, the vision of the 

White Buffalo Calf Woman may become a reality 

for all people. 

—WBCWS Web site 

39 

Rosebud Lakota 

Tribe 
Appendix A 

Promising Practices


41 

Many promising practices are being developed 

and implemented throughout Indian Country to 

initiate new and improved victim services. Below 

are just a few examples: 

Using Technology To Provide Victim 

Assistance and Education 

The Bay Mills Indian Community Victim Services Web site at www.baymills.org/vs provides a 

wide range of information and resources for victims and entire communities. Separate Web sites 

are available that provide information on a range 

of issues, including 

✦	 A list of specific victim services provided by 

the program. 

✦	 A community education page—currently 

addressing “What Is Domestic Violence?” 

✦	 A separate page on “Effects of Domestic 

Violence on Children.” 

✦ A calendar of events. 

✦ Featured articles. 

✦ A detailed safety plan. 

✦ Federal laws on crime victims’ rights. 

✦ A message board. 

✦ A chat line. 

For information about the Bay Mills Indian 

Community Victim Services program and Web 

site, please contact the victim advocate at 

survivors@baymills.org, or contact: 

Bay Mills Victim Services


Ellen Marshall Memorial Building


12124 West Lakeshore Drive


Brimley, MI 49715


906–248–3204, ext. 3309


Developing Tribal College Curricula and 

Distance Learning and Opportunities To 

Educate Victim Service Providers (Project 

Peacemaker/Tribal Legal Studies) 

Project Peacemaker (Providing Education And


Community Empowerment by Maintaining And


Keeping the Earth and all our Relatives through


Tribal Justice Systems) is a collaborative ini­


tiative involving the Tribal Law and Policy 


Institute, UCLA, and four tribal colleges—to


develop, pilot, and implement Tribal Legal Stud­


ies curricula at tribal community colleges to pre-


pare students for employment with tribal


governments and tribal court systems as judges,


advocates (including victim advocates), proba­


tion officers, social services personnel, law en­


forcement personnel, and other positions related


to the administration of justice in Indian Coun­


try. The courses in the program are also available


as inservice training for current program employ­


ees and the community at large. Victim advo­


cates are included in the target audience for the


program courses and victim issues are included in


the curricula. 


For information about Project Peacemaker, please


e-mail jerry@tribal-institute.org, or contact:


Tribal Law and Policy Institute


8235 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 211


West Hollywood, CA 90046


323–650–5467


Fax: 323–650–8149

42 

Curriculum Development To Promote Safety 

and Provide Support for Victims 

As a result of a federal grant, the Tribal Law and 

Policy Institute will be designing, developing, and 

implementing a Violence Against Indian Women 

course for tribal colleges that will include (1) 

design and development of the course, (2) publication of a Violence Against Indian Women 

textbook with instructor guides and student 

workbooks, (3) establishment of agreements with 

tribal college partners to provide college credit 

for existing Violence Against Indian Women 

trainings and conferences, and (4) development 

of feasible distance learning components for this 

course, such as by Internet and satellite. These 

curricula and publications will also be useful as 

inservice or in-house training for grantee programs. Further, development of the course and 

textbooks will greatly increase the likelihood that 

tribal colleges and other colleges on or near Indian reservations will be willing to offer Violence 

Against Indian Women courses. 

For information concerning the Violence Against 

Indian Women Project, please e-mail Jerry Gardner at jerry@tribal-institute.org, or e-mail Sarah 

Deer at sarah@tribal-institute.org, or contact: 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

8235 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 211 

West Hollywood, CA 90046 

323–650–5467 

Fax: 323–650–8149 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 
Appendix B 

Resources 

This section provides a selected list of public, 

nonprofit, and private agencies addressing crime 

victims in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. This list is not all inclusive, but will 

provide the reader with a starting point for developing a victim services program. 

Federal Agencies 

The Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog is available online at www.cfda.gov. The printed version 

is available for a fee from the Superintendent of 

Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 

15250. 

United States Department of Justice 

Office of Tribal Justice 

Main Justice Building, Room 5634 

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 

Washington, DC 20530–0001 

202–514–8812 

Fax: 202–514–9078 

www.usdoj.gov/otj/index.html 

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) 

Office of Justice Programs 

810 Seventh Street NW. 

Washington, DC 20531 

202–616–6500 

Fax: 202–305–1367 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/index.html 

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) 

810 Seventh Street NW. 

Washington, DC 20531 

202–307–6026 (TTY 202–307–2277) 

Fax: 202–307–3911 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo 

43 

Other 

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services 

Administration for Native Americans 

Administration for Children and Families 

West Aerospace Center, Mail Stop 8th Floor 

370 L’Enfant Promenade 

Washington, DC 20447–0002 

877–922–9262 

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana 

National Center for Injury Prevention and 

Control (NCIPC) 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

4770 Buford Highway NE., Mailstop K65 

Atlanta, GA 30341–3724 

770–488–1506 

Fax: 770–488–1667 

www.cdc.gov/ncipc/ncipchm.htm 

U.S. Department of Education Safe and DrugFree Schools Program 

Department of Education 

1250 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 604 

Washington, DC 20202–6123 

202–260–3954 

Fax: 202–260–7767 

www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS 

Private and Nonprofit 

Resources 

American Indian Development Associates 

2401 12th Street NW., Suite 212 

Albuquerque, NM 87104 

505–842–1122 

Fax: 505–842–9652 
44 

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) 

440 First Street NW., Third Floor 

Washington, DC 20001–2085 

202–638–2952 

Fax: 202–638–4004 

www.cwla.org 

Clan Star, Inc. 

P.O. Box 1835 

110 Minnie Lane 

Cherokee, NC 28719 

828–497–5507 

Fax: 828–497–5688 

www.clanstar.org 

International Association of Chiefs of Police 

515 North Washington Street 

Alexandria, VA 22314 

1–800–THE IACP 

Fax: 703–836–4543 

www.theiacp.org 

Mending the Sacred Hoop 

202 East Superior Street 

Duluth, MN 55802 

1–888–305–1650 

Fax: 218–722–5775 

www.msh-ta.org 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving 

511 East John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700 

Irving, TX 75062 

1–800–GET–MADD (800–438–6233) 

Fax: 972–869–2206 

www.madd.org/home 

National American Indian Court Judges 

Association (NAICJA) 

3618 Reder Street 

Rapid City, SD 57702 

605–342–4804 

Fax: 605–719–9357 

www.naicja.org 

National CASA 

100 West Harrison 

North Tower, Suite 500 

Seattle, WA 98119 

1–800–628–3233 

Fax: 206–270–0078 

www.nationalcasa.org 

Victim Services: 

Promising 

Practices in 

Indian Country 

National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) 

2000 M Street NW., Suite 48 

Washington, DC 20010 

202–467–8700 

Fax: 202–467–8701 

www.ncvc.org 

National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) 

Lewis and Clark Law School


10015 Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard


Portland, OR 97219


503–768–6818 


Fax: 503–768–6671


www.lclark.edu/org/ncvli


National Indian Child Welfare Association 

(NICWA) 

5100 Southwest Macadam Avenue, Suite 300


Portland, OR 97239


503–222–4044


Fax: 503–222–4007


www.nicwa.org


National Organization for Victim Assistance 

(NOVA) 

1730 Park Road NW. 

Washington, DC 20010 

202–232–6682 

Fax: 202–462–2255 

www.try-nova.org 

National Tribal Justice Resource Center 

4410 Arapahoe, Suite 135 

Boulder, CO 80303 

303–245–0786 

Fax: 303–245–0785 

www.tribalresourcecenter.org 

Native American Children’s Alliance (NACA) 

1208 San Pedro NE., Suite 212 

Albuquerque, NM 87110 

505–268–5863 

Fax: 505–268–7462 

Native American Circle, Ltd. 

P.O. Box 227


Elgin, OK 73538


866–622–3872


Fax: 580–492–1890


www.nativeamericancircle.org

Nevada Institute for Children 

4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453030


Las Vegas, NV 89154–3030


702–895–1040


Fax: 702–895–2657


www.unlv.edu/Research/NIC


Sacred Circle: National Resource Center to 

End Violence Against Native Women 

722 St. Joseph Street 

Rapid City, SD 57701 

605–341–2050 

Fax: 605–341–2472 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

8235 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 211


West Hollywood, CA 90046


323–650–5467


Fax: 323–650–8149


and 

4155 Tudor Center Drive, Suite 206


Anchorage, AK 99508


907–770–1950


Fax: 907–770–1951


www.tribal-institute.org


Unified Solutions Coaching and 

Consulting Group, Inc. 

519 East Fourth Street 

Tucson, AZ 85705 

520–622–8050 

Fax: 520–622–7558 

www.unified-solutions.org 

Well Nations Magazine 

520 Kansas City Street, Suite 308 

Rapid City, SD 57701 

605–348–9283 

Fax: 605–348–9284 

www.wellnations.com 

45 

Appendix B. 

Resources 
Victim Services: Promising 

Practices in Indian Country 

For copies of this monograph and/or additional information,


please contact


OVC Resource Center


P.O. Box 6000


Rockville, MD 20849–6000


Telephone: 1–800–851–3420 or 301–519–5500


(TTY 1–877–712–9279)


www.ncjrs.org 

Or order OVC publications online at http://puborder.ncjrs.org.


E-mail questions to askovc@ojp.usdoj.gov.


Send your feedback on this service via http://tellncjrs.ncjrs.org.


Refer to publication number NCJ 207019.


For information on training and technical


assistance available from OVC, please contact


OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center


10530 Rosehaven Street, Suite 400


Fairfax, VA 22030


Telephone: 1–866–OVC–TTAC (1–866–682–8822)


(TTY 1–866–682–8880)


www.ovcttac.org