Special Edition 2012 - Fighting Sexual Violence

First Nations believes that to revitalize Native communities, one thing they need to do is strengthen the capacity and capabilities of their existing nonprofit organizations and create new community based nonprofits. To that end, we help them by providing grants, technical assistance and training. In fact, over our history, we have supported hundreds of projects that revitalize Native communities while integrating social empowerment and economic strategies.

One issue that has haunted some Native communities is domestic violence and sexual assault. Due to homelessness, poverty, medical problems and basic lack of services, Native women are disproportionately impacted by prostitution, and are subject to high rates of violence and assault. Therefore, the nonprofit groups and coalitions that deal with these issues are crucial to generating awareness and advocating for policy changes to reduce and, hopefully, end domestic violence and sexual assault altogether.

First Nations serves as one of many providers in a national network of organizations providing technical assistance to tribal coalitions for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. In that role, we provide assistance and training – both in group settings and individually – that strengthen existing Native American nonprofits that deal with domestic violence and sexual assault.

One such organization that has benefited from our help is the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, which has become nationally recognized for its work in ending sexual assault and generating awareness on trafficking of Native American women through the recently published results of a five-year study titled “Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota.”

As a technical assistance provider, First Nations has been instrumental in facilitating sessions with tribal coalitions such as the Minnesota group that generate new ideas, allows staff and board members to brainstorm new strategies for growing the organization, and help them stay on track with their missions. With our help in strengthening their capacity and increasing their sustainability, these tribal groups are now better positioned for the long term.

“The Minnesota coalition is a shining example of a Native nonprofit which, after roughing it through the economic challenges and federal funding cuts, has embraced technical assistance and diversification that will benefit the organization for years to come, and they are now recognized on a national level for their efforts to end sexual assault against Native women,” said First Nations President Michael Roberts.

You can help First Nations Development Institute with similar worthy programs through your financial support, AND you can donate directly to the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition here.