Restoration Magazine

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 was signed into law by President Obama on March 7, 2013, for fiscal years 2013–2018. The last three reauthorizations—2000, 2005, 2013—have expanded protections for American Indian and Alaska Native women increasing services and further recognizing tribal authority to protect women. “We have achieved important foundational advances with each of three reauthorizations of VAWA over the past years,” said Dorma Sahneyah, NIWRC, Director of Training Technical Assistance. Despite these advances, many Indian tribes struggle with systemic injustices posing barriers to the safety of Native women under the five VAWA-identified crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

It is with the understanding of these barriers, along with the dedication and desire to remedy them, that grassroots advocates, organizations, and tribal leaders have successfully amended past VAWA reauthorizations to be relevant to Indian nations. “In 2000 and 2005, I recall, as Chief Prosecutor of the Hopi Tribe, encountering roadblocks on a regular basis to my work to achieve justice,” said Sahneyah. “We identified issues and worked to amend VAWA. We also advocated for passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act to include restoration of tribal jurisdiction; however, this didn’t occur until VAWA 2013. This effort involved providing testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. This same approach is needed for VAWA 2018 to enhance the safety for Native women and to hold offenders accountable.”

VAWA 2018 reauthorization efforts are currently underway with the following activities:

• Biweekly calls of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women (NTF). The discussions focus on issues and policy concerns that directly relate to and intersect with domestic violence and sexual assault.
• The NTF VAWA subcommittees including the VAWA tribal subcommittee have formed with representation from both NIWRC and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
• The NTF coordinated an initial VAWA 2018 meeting with Senators Grassley, Feinstein, and Murray to provide an opportunity to educate Hill staffers about intersectional issues, successes, and gaps in the current VAWA legislation.
• The NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women began discussions about VAWA 2018 at the 2017 Executive Council Winter Session. This discussion focused on tribal issues and concerns.

Like previous VAWA reauthorizations, there will be opportunities for local, regional, and national discussions to examine current and emerging issues impacting the safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women. The issues identified by the grassroots movement provide valuable insight and inform the dialogue with national policymakers and members of Congress. Going forward, the following organizations will play important roles in collaboration with their networks, stakeholders, advocates, and community members:

• The NTF and VAWA subcommittees will continue to hold biweekly calls and will attend bipartisan meetings with Senators and Representatives to educate them on specific intersectional and policy issues, including tribal challenges and implications.
• The NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women will convene a session on June 12, 2017, to discuss VAWA 2018 reauthorization at the 2017 Mid-Year Conference in Uncasville, CT.

If you have any comments or would like to be included in the reauthorization process, please do not hesitate to contact NIWRC’s DC Policy Advisor, Caroline LaPorte, at claporte@niwrc.org. Caroline will be happy to answer your questions and provide further assistance and information about the VAWA 2018 reauthorization.