Tribal Leaders Need to Reconsider Whether to Invite Domestic Violence Programs into Native American Communities

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

Tribal Leaders Need to Reconsider Whether to Invite Domestic Violence Programs into Native American Communities

WASHINGTON / April 4, 2022 – A recent article in the Navajo-Hopi Observer reveals the widespread dishonesty that permeates the domestic violence issue. A milestone Department of Justice study found similar levels of victimization among male and female Native Americans. Despite that fact, a recent Navajo-Hopi Observer article silenced the plight of male abuse victims and only highlighted the existence of female victims (1).

A 2016 Department of Justice study, “Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men” (2), found there are more Indian men victimized by psychological abuse, compared to Indigenous women:

Male victims: 73%
Female victims: 66%

Regarding physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking, the DOJ reported nearly identical percentages of lifetime victimization among Native Americans:

Male victims: 81%
Female victims: 84%

The Navajo-Hopi Observer article quoted Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown, who stated, “Our male coming of age ceremonies have lessons for our young men on their roles in Navajo society. Navajo men have to reclaim traditional teachings and protect our women from violence.” Brown made no mention of Navajo women working to protect men from partner abuse.

Previous publications have spotlighted the epidemic of partner abuse of indigenous men:

Indian Country Today published an article titled, “Breaking the Silence on Violence Against Native American Men” (3). The article emphasized the barriers that male victims face: “more than 1 in 6 Native male victims (19.9 percent) needed services, yet were unable to access the critical services they needed for safety and healing (17 percent).”
Indianz.com published an article by the StrongHearts Native Helpline on “True or False: Abuse Against Men” that highlighted a number of myths surrounding male victims (4). For example, the vast majority – 91% — of perpetrators of sexual violence are not Native Indian men. “Stereotypes like this are unfounded and racist. They harm Native women as much as Native men as it distracts from the reality of their situation and does nothing to address the root causes of violence against Native peoples,” the article concludes.

Domestic violence falsehoods have been documented to be widespread (5). By promoting suspicion, fear, and distrust, one-sided depictions of domestic violence are divisive and harmful to indigenous kinship networks.

Tribal leaders should not allow domestic violence programs to be promoted among Indian communities, without prior review of all training materials and handouts. The review needs to assure the materials accurately present the findings from the Department of Justice study.

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