New FBI Report Details Patterns of Violence Against Native Women, Children
https://nativenewsonline.net/health/new-fbi-report-details-patterns-of-violence-against-native-women-children

The FBI’s latest report exposes alarming trends in violence against Native women, reinforcing the urgency of the MMIP crisis. Advocates call for better data & resources.

"An FBI report on violent and sexual crimes against Native American women provides new data about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis.

The report, Violence Against American Indian or Alaska Native Females: 2021 - 2023, uses data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to identify relationships between victims and offenders, weapons used, locations of incidents, and ages of victims in both violent crimes and victims of sexual crimes.

Native Americans face murder rates that are ten times the national average, with homicide ranking among the top 10 causes of death for Native women. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are 4,200 unsolved MMIP cases, advocates say the actual number is likely higher. Family members of MMIP victims and survivors have brought national attention to the disproportionate rates of violence Native women face and the large number of unsolved cases. Despite increased federal resources, inconsistent record-keeping across jurisdictions and limited data continue to complicate efforts to address the crisis.

The FBI report analyzed nearly 35,000 incidents of violent and sexual crimes committed against Native American women. Key findings show that firearms are commonly used against the victims of violent crimes, while personal weapons are used to commit sexual offenses. Most offenses occur at residences. Native American adults are most often victims of violence, while Native juveniles make up most victims of sexual offenses.

Haley Omeasoo (Hopi, Blackfeet), executive director of MMIP nonprofit Ohkomi Forensics, wrote in an email to Native News Online that the report is an important step to improving the quality of data on the MMIP crisis.

“Working in the forensics field and advocating for MMIP cases, I get asked all the time what the statistics are concerning violence against Indigenous women and people,” Omeasoo wrote “Every time I tell them that I can give you the information that is available online, but most often times these statistics are inaccurate and an undercount. Whether it’s due to underreporting or racial and gender misclassification, there is just not an accurate data representation for Natives in these larger databases.”

Pinpointing trends in the violence that characterize the MMIP crisis could help direct resources — funding for public safety and victim support, for instance — to where they will be most effective.

“It’s super important to collect and analyze this information pertaining to violence against Indigenous people in the FBI special reports because we get a better idea of the extent and severity of the MMIP epidemic,” Omeasoo continued. “Especially with the incidents occurring often by an intimate partner. So, these aren’t just crimes that are occurring to Natives by unknown, non-native assailants; these are happening within our own home communities, and this report is evidence that there needs to be more resources being offered to ensure the safety of our people.”

#MMIW #MMIP #JusticeForNativeWomen #MMIW #MMIWG #BringThemHome #EnoughIsEnough #Indigenous #NDNZ #DefendTheSacred #AbolishProstitution #NordicModelNow #IndigenousFeminism

INDIGENOUS WOMAN

She has a young face
An old face
She carries herself well
In all ages
She survives all man has done
In some tribes she is free
In some religions
She is under man
In some societies
She's worth what she consumes
In some nations
She is delicate strength
In some states
She is told she is weak
In some classes
She is property owned
In all instances
She is sister to earth
In all conditions
She is life bringer
In all life she is our necessity
See the woman eyes
Flowers swaying
On scattered hills
Sundancing calling in the bees
See the woman heart
Lavender butterflies
Fronting blue sky
Misty rain falling
On soft wild roses
See the woman beauty
Lightning streaking
Dark summer nights
Forests of pines mating
With new winter snow
See the woman spirit
Daily serving courage
With laughter
Her breath a dream
And a prayer
COPYRIGHT:
Writer(s): John F. Trudell, Milton Sahme

See the Woman
https://youtu.be/kLLhiQxLvyg


#MMIW #MMIWG #SearchTheLandFills #BringThemHome #EnoughIsEnough #BradyLandfill #CampMorgan #Indigenous #NDNZ #DefendTheSacred #AbolishProstitution #NordicModelNow #IndigenousFeminism #JohnTrudell