Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

HOPE Conference, healing for communities: Child victims of sexual abuse

An exhibit including a display of the tribal flags from the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Oglala, Rosebud, Sisseton Wahpeton, Standing Rock and Yankton Sioux Tribes. (Rapid City Journal File photo)

One of the most under-reported media stories that remains to be told is the past and ongoing sexual abuse of children. In response, some brave people – including Elrae Dawn Potts — have worked hard to organize the HOPE Conference to address the issue. Here is a flier on the HOPE Conference, scheduled in Rapid City, S.D. Check it out for a full look at all the speakers, etc.

I’ve included an excerpt from the flier:

The HOPE (Healing for our People Everywhere) Conference is scheduled to take place in Rapid City, South Dakota at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn on December 18, 19, and 20, 2009; coinciding with the Lakota Nation Invitational. The purpose of this conference is to begin an open dialogue and the healing process by addressing the silent epidemic of child sexual trauma which has plagued Indian Country for generations. This conference is open to the public. The conference is being organized by a consortium national and community leaders,experts, and activists.

The epidemic of sexual trauma and sexual abuse is well documented statistically and yet remains prevalent among Native people. Karen Artichoker (Oglala) states: “It’s clear that tribal, state and federal institutions that have a responsibility to respond have not prioritized the issue.”

The HOPE Conference endeavors to respond by calling upon Indian Country’s finest experts, community leaders, artists/activists, health care professionals and survivors to bring this subject to the circle for an open dialogue, to consider solutions and to begin the healing process.

 

Let the healing begin.

Jodi Rave

 

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

4 Comments

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  • Pops

    Jodi, I am glad that Native Americans are bringing to light the issues involving child abuse. As a prospective member of B.A.C.A. (Bikers Against Child Abuse) I am well aware of the suffering of all children of child abuse. I do not know the statistics yet on the ratio of child abuse among Native American children but I am well aware of the fact that 1 in 5 children in the U.S. suffer from some form of abuse and 4 children die everyday from this terrible malidy that our government chooses to ignore. If you are interested I can give you a name and contact of the most fantastic husband and wife team I have ever heard speak about thhis subject. They are in the process of having the Wall of Tears completed and B.A.C.A will be escorting that exhibit when it is completed all over California, other chapters will do the same in their respective states. Let me assure you that our chapter will support your efforts and all Native Americans concerning this tragic and terrible thing happening to our children.
    Please excuse me from not mentioning my real name since we are only allowed to use our road names because us and our families may become targets of the people we protect children from. Please look up the national web site of Bikers Against Chid Abuse. (use those key words). There are many videos and facts to let you know who we are and what we do. We are non-violent but will do what we have to to protect children and our Brothers and Sisters. Thank you to all Native American leaders and people for mbringing this subject to the attention of everyone that reads your blog.
    Sincerely, Pops
    “NO CHILD SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR”

  • Elrae

    Jodi,
    I would like to take this moment to say thank you for your words of encouragement, and for blogging about the conference. But, mainly for your words. I take your words to my heart…they mean alot to me. Have a great day!!!

  • Ken Bear Chief

    Hello Elrai; This is Ken Bear Chief, and I am an investigator/victim liaison with Tamaki Law Offices of Yakima, Washington. As you know, I have been investigating and interviewing victims of childhood sexual abuse who attended the Jesuit Missions throughout WA, ID, OR, and MT for the past two years. During this period more than 500 victims of sexual abuse came forward filing claims of sexual abuse against the Oregon Province, Society of Jesus. This province was also know as the NW or Rocky Mountain Jesuits and operated mission schools, churches, and parishes throughout reservations in the the Pacific Northwest. The deadline for victims to come forward and file claims, set by the Oregon Bankruptcy Court, was November 30, 2009. However, victims may still come forward as non-tort litigants a/k/a future claimants and have their cliam evaluated and potentially settled. If you were a victim of sexual abuse, and you did not come forward before the deadline and you wish to speak with a respresentative of Tamaki Law Offices who represents more than 90 Native American victims of abuse as claimants in the bankruptcy process, please call 800-801-9564 for a free consultation and evaluation of your claim. Also, if you need to call requesting information about the Jesuit bankruptcy case and how you may file a claim as a future claimant, I am sure that you will be assisted by someone at Tamaki Law Offices. Thank you.

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