Ending the Cycle of Abuse in Indian Country
Part 4 - Getting to know who can help: CVA
(In this final part of this series, the different facets of abuse in
Indian Country are explored with resources for combating them all.)
The Crime Victim Advocate (CVA) is the reservation' s tribal domestic
violence response team located in Pablo. It began in 1996 thanks to a
federal grant that aimed to curb the problem with violence against
women. The program works with all victims but the majority being
domestic abuse victims (non-tribal included). They help an estimated
160 victims per year and offer help to victims with the process of
protective orders (including gay and lesbian couples), peer
counseling, support groups, help with leaving violent partners
(safety plans), help with prosecution process against abusers,
victims' witness advantage, and of course, there is always a member
of the staff on call 24 hours a day. Outside of helping with victims
they also do several activities with the community in order to
promote their program by offering training on abuse, outreach and
media campaigning, pursue grants and funding for the program, abuse
education for the youth at Two Eagle River School, and they also hold
monthly meetings that are open to the public in regards to their
future plans and events known as CVRs.
Tessie Curly and Evelyn Hernandez are local crime victim advocates
for the Flathead reservation and began their knowledge on abuse
victims long before their careers with the CVA. "I think what really
helps us is our own past history and experience because we were both
victims of domestic abuse at one point in our lives," says Tessie.
Aside from their own past with abuse, the women have both been in the
field of helping victims prior to the CVA. Tessie has worked with the
Safe Harbor, while Evelyn worked with the women's shelter at the YWCA
in Missoula. Because of the experience the women have both personally
and professionally, it helps their victims on all levels.
"We
understand it and we know how it feels. We don't ever turn anyone
away from our help because we understand that it takes a lot of
courage to step forth and make the decision to get out of an abusive
relationship. At times we even cry with our women and get angry right
along with them," explains Tessie.
"We're never judgmental," adds Evelyn.
Being a part of the CVA on the Flathead reservation gives an open
network to other reservations and resources as well. "We do work with
the Blackfeet reservations' shelter quite often. Just because
everyone knows where the shelter is located in Browning and at times
they send their women to us just to get them off of their reservation
and away from their abuser. At times we'll also do the same, send
victims from our shelter to theirs in order of protecting them," says
Tessie. The CVA has worked with shelters all across reservations in
Montana, South Dakota, and even Canada. They are able to send victims
wherever they need to go in order to be protected from their
abuser. "When women are ready, we have the resources to meet their
different needs and circumstances, " says Evelyn.
"The only difference between our CVA program and surrounding shelters
and programs is the cultural knowledge. We're Native women so we can
relate with the Native women that we work with. We don't only help
Natives, but for the Native women that are victims it could be more
comfortable for them to work with us," says Tessie.
Aside from the cultural benefits of the CVA program, the advocates
are very in touch with their clients. "Trust is gained through
consistency and dependability. We offer support regardless if they
choose to go back, we're there. We're pretty open with our women and
our relationships with them become close. A lot of times the
relationships can last a life time," says Evelyn.
"The main goals when helping the victims and their children is to
make sure they are safe. Once they are safe, our next goal is to
educate the victims. A lot of times women stay in an abusive
relationship because they are afraid of change. There are all kinds
of obstacles that keep women in abuse. I want women to always make
sure there is a safety plan," says Evelyn.
The CVA has strong goals that involve being well known throughout the
community and helping the public become more aware of domestic
abuse. "We're really trying to be more visible in the community and
gain trust with other programs as well as departments, " says Evelyn.
For the future the CVA plans on planting a tree in honor of victims
that will have a message. They have also made cardboard statues they
call silhouettes, which are in the shape of Native women wearing
purple dresses (purple is the color for domestic violence). They are
also wearing paper hearts with messages on domestic violence. The
silhouettes are made in honorable representation of Native women that
have been killed from abuse and have made an impact when presented to
the public. "It was a very hard process when gathering information on
the statistics for the silhouettes. When there are domestic
situations, the abuser or offender is classified under race, but the
victims aren't," says Evelyn. Each month the CVA tries to think of
new activities to be involved in and promote their program.
For a final message to the public they offer the following: "We're
always recruiting volunteers and we even offer the training. Don't
ignore abuse, it's everybody's business because it effects men,
women, children, gays, and lesbians."
The CVA also offers support groups upon request. If you need to
attend a support group meeting feel free to contact Evelyn Hernandez
at (406) 675-2700 ext. 1179.
For more information on the CVA or if you need help, you can contact
their program through the toll free number: 1 (877) 231-5172, the CVA
office: 675-2700 ext.1180, or evenings at: 675-4700.
The following is the CVA mission statement:
To involve victims and the local communities in a restorative
process that diminishes the devastating impact of domestic violence,
child abuse, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
The program is dedicated to facilitating cultural change in order
to create violence-free communities.
June 14, 2007
Link to Report
Lead from 2 beads Correspondent Teresa Anahuy
Contents
July 2007 Reports
Last updated on July 2, 2007