Who Will Protect Our Children:

when perpetrators are spiritual leaders, relatives

and leaders in our Tribal Communities

Lonna Hunter, Council on Crime and Justice

Honor Survivors

Overview• Our children: our most

valuable resource• Institutionalized

responses to sexual abuse in tribal communities

• Trauma• Spiritual leaders• Protectors• Sacred Trust

Our Way of Life• Our culture valued children,

spiritually, mentally, emotionally and were considered gifts

• Every living thing has a spirit

• Women were healers/matrilineal

• Strong kinship system

• Strong values

Children

Traditional • Children are gifts • Extended family

has a role in raising child

• We honor children• We listen to

children

Colonized• Children are

harmed• Extended family:

trauma, victims• Don’t believe

children• Children are seen

and not heard

Continuum of AssimilationNo Cultural Adaptation

Total Cultural Assimilation

No cultural adaptation: maintains traditional patterns that include language, communication and thinking patterns, spiritual beliefs and practices, traditional values and traditional family structures, strong identity.

Total assimilation: adapted to the thinking patterns, values, family structure, identity is questioned, male dominance, internalized oppression, questions spirituality.

POST COLONIZATION

• Boarding School• Not able to practice

religious beliefs until 1978

• Violence perpetrated against women, children, men, boys

• Alcohol introduced• Kinship system broke

• Value system broke • Shame based

indoctrination• Forced removals• Urban relocations• Reservations• No traditional foods• Roles of women and

children, men broke

Cultural Deprivation and Victimization at Boarding

Schools

• Harsh and cruel punishment

• Beaten and whipped for speaking language or seeking comfort

• Denied contact with family for months or years

• Denied proper medical care

• Limitations on food, clothing, shelter

• No nurturing or hugging

• Sexual abuse perpetrated by adults

• Parents not notified upon child’s death

• Unmarked graves

Social Structures and Breakdown of Family

Structure• Several

generations of families raised in boarding schools

• Emotional, physical, sexual abuse

• Parenting when you were not parented

• Roles of elders, children, women, men, not valued or understood

• Unworthy or denies traditional spirituality

• Violence• Children not valued• Women not valued• Elders not valued• Coping

mechanisms• Perpetrators• Male dominance• Shame

Trauma in Tribal Communities/Families

• Tribal communities, families, generations have not healed fully

• Trauma• Unable to trust systems, law enforcement,

child protection• Limited coping skills• Unable to trust hospitals, mental health,

therapy• Want to heal but not in touch with cultural

traditions• Rejecting cultural traditions, way of life• Shame of disclosing sexual abuse• Not valuing children

Reporting Child Sexual Abuse in Indian Country

• No child advocacy center for forensic interview or exam within 100 miles or on a plane

• Non-offending parent/caregiver visibly upset/terrified or numb

• Witness family member/community member arrested or not

• No follow up services i.e. therapy, traditional healing, no support for family

• Backlash from community, family, threats, shunning

• Non-offending parent/caregiver may be sexual abuse survivor and unable to cope

Prosecution• Limited tribal

jurisdiction for accountability or penalties

• Federal level may decide to not prosecute due to limited evidence collection or no major crime

• Non-native providers

• State, federal, tribal jurisdictions may not respond adequately

• Tribes unable to prosecute non-tribal member

• No victim advocates

• Perpetrator may be in a position of power

What Does Justice Look Like?

• Traditional forms of justice included:

• Banishment• Social sanctions• Death• Stripped duties,

power, role in the community

• Community deterrents

• Tribal responses today:

• Tribal codes/laws that include victims rights, cultural values, language

• Victim advocacy programming and healing includes traditions

• Restitution • Restoration of

traditional values of children

Injustice With Perpetrators in Positions

of Power• Spiritual leaders,

priests• Tribal

council/leaders• Elders/teachers• Law enforcement• Drummers, singers,

dancers, pow wow emcees

• Esteemed family member

• Consequences: • Loss of housing,

benefits, employment

• Shunned, turned away from community

• Children blamed• Cannot practice

religious or spiritual beliefs

• Harassed, beaten, threatened,

American Indian Religious Freedom Act 1978

• Designed to “insure that the policies and procedures of various federal agencies, as they impact upon the exercise of traditional Indian religious practices, are brought into compliance with the constitutional injunction that Congress shall make no laws abridging the free exercise of religion”

• Example: Native American Church, Eagle feathers

Healing

Sexual Abuse by Spiritual Leaders

• Well kept secret• Reality in our tribal

communities• Makes you feel

special• Powerful in the

community• Grooming

• Risk Factors:• Isolation• Intimate access• Glorified/sanctified• Lack of supervision

or accountability• Vulnerable

populations• Protected by

community and misinterpretation of values

Where do we begin• Talking about it means we can

stop it• Change happens slowly, don’t

give up• Ensuring safety when a child

discloses or tells their story• Restoring or Expanding

traditional roles• Traditional values and

responsibilities that recognize conduct and consequence

Sacred Trust• Creating safety so children feel safe once

they have disclosed• Telling children they are valued and loved • Children are honored• Hold perpetrators accountable, remove roles

and responsibilities• Zero tolerance• Create a list of safe spiritual leaders• I believe you• You did not deserve this• I am sorry this happened• You are brave