Joint NIWRC and NCAI Reception Celebrating 20 Years of the Restoration Magazine And Honoring the Leadership of the NCAI VAW Task Force
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(LAME DEER, Mont., February 22, 2024)—On February 12, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) hosted a reception at NCAI’s Executive Session in Washington, D.C., celebrating 20 years of Restoration of Native Sovereignty and Safety for Native Women Magazine (Restoration) and honoring the past and present leadership of the NCAI Violence Against Women Task Force.
Speakers included La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians Chairwoman Wendy Schlater, NCAI Board President Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Indians), Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna), NIWRC Board Vice Chairwoman Carmen O’Leary (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), NIWRC Board Chairwoman tai simpson (Nimiipuu), Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition Nicole Matthews (White Earth Band of Ojibwe), NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska), and Interim Executive Director of the Pouhana O Nā Wāhine Dolly Tatofi.
The first Restoration Magazine was launched 20 years ago as part of the effort to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The magazine echoed the voices of advocates, survivors, families, Tribal leaders, and communities who called for the inclusion of what was eventually called the Safety for Indian Women title in the 2005 VAWA bill.
Over the past 20 years, Restoration, a publication of NIWRC, has become an essential tool in the movement to protect and promote Tribal sovereignty and increase safety for Native women. We are thankful for the hard work, vision, and insight of everyone who has contributed to, read, and shared Restoration over the past two decades.
Founded in 2003, the NCAI VAW Task Force provides a space for Tribal Coalitions, advocates, and Tribal leaders to organize to ensure that ending violence against women is a priority for Tribal Nations across the country. The Task Force has introduced NCAI resolutions and called for groundbreaking changes in federal laws and policies aimed at keeping Native women and communities safe. Thanks to the work of past Task Force leadership, dedicated members, and our current co-chairs, Juana Majel Dixon (Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians) and Shannon Holsey (Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians), we have made monumental strides in our mission for safety and sovereignty.
NIWRC and NCAI were honored to host this reception to raise up the changes we have made arm-in-arm with Tribal Coalitions, Tribal advocates, and Tribal leadership over the past two decades through the Restoration Magazine and the NCAI VAW Task Force.
“Our work over the last 20 years is a story we are writing together to end violence in Indian Country and liberate our people from the harmful effects of violence.”—tai simpson (Nimiipuu), NIWRC Board Chairwoman.
