Tradition as Prevention
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes are diverse and unique in their ceremonies and practices. AI/AN people share a common belief that their traditional wisdom is protective. Native American cultural knowledge, spiritual and ancient healing, and health systems have endured the test of time and can address the entangled and complex trauma of violence.
Reconnecting with Native Teachings to Create Healing Spaces for Two Spirit (2S+)/LGBTQ+ Survivors of Domestic Violence
In the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 65% of transgender AI/AN people reported sexual assault and 73% reported intimate partner violence, the highest of any other racial/ethnic group for transgender people. The overall average for all racial/ethnic groups were 47% reporting a history of sexual assault and 54% reporting a history of intimate partner violence.
To address this issue, in 2022, the National Indigenous Women Resource Center (NIWRC) created the Toolkit for Family and Friends: Reconnecting with Native Teachings and Celebrating Healing Spaces with and for 2S+/LGBTQ+ Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence. The toolkit provides information to support families and friends to reconnect with teachings across AI/AN and Native Hawaiian cultures to improve their capacity to support 2S+/LGBTQ people who are survivors of violence or domestic abuse. Using insights gleaned from traditional teachings, the toolkit provides strategies for people to take active roles within their immediate family and larger community spaces to protect, reduce isolation, and assist with safety planning to support survivors and avoid victim-blaming.