Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center Annual Unity Meeting: Increasing the Safety of Alaska Native Women
The Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (AKNWRC), along with its partners, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC), and the Indian Law Resource Center held its sixth annual Unity Meeting on December 10, 2021. The Unity meeting, modeled after the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Violence Against Women (VAW) Task Force, which convenes the day before the three NCAI conventions each year, is typically convened the day before the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) annual conference. The AFN conference, which is usually held in October beginning on a Thursday and running through Saturday was moved to December this year and held virtually because of the ongoing concerns of the COVID-19. The AFN conference was held on December 13 and 14, 2021, via webcast.
The Unity meeting, with more than 60 in attendance, covered topics similar to what the NCAI VAW Task Force covers but focuses on the impacts to Alaska and guides how to best focus limited resources to rural communities. Highlights from the AKNWRC team included information about ongoing initiatives, relevant federal and state legislation, policies, new programs, and information about how the AKNWRC can be available to assist Tribal communities as they address gender-based violence issues, housing, and related issues. Two such initiatives include a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) community action plan that can be used to address gender-based violence issues, and what to do if someone goes missing or dies unexpectedly by suspicious circumstances. Far too often the initial event happens, a call for help goes out and the family and community await answers and often have a feeling of powerlessness. The action plan guides about various activities that the community and family can engage in to keep the issue in everyone’s awareness to hopefully find the person or find answers. In addition, the AKNWRC is nearly finished with an Alaska-specific violence against women book entitled, Alaska Native Women: Ending the Violence, Reclaiming a Sacred Status by Jacqueline (Jax) Agtuca.
Special guest Deborah Parker, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Director of Policy & Advocacy, provided an update on the Truth and Healing on Indian Boarding Schools Policies Act that is introduced in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. We know that the source of many issues related to gender-based violence has stemmed from the violent history and colonization by the United States, which includes the horrific removal of children as young as 3 to boarding schools where they were required to speak only in the English language or be subject to extreme punishment and abuse.
The Unity meeting also heard from several partners, such as the Yup’ik Women’s Coalition, Alaska Native Justice Center, Healing Native Hearts Coalition, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Violence Against Women Task Force. These updates, from various Alaska regions, covered the great programs and services being provided around the state and the gaps in services that still exist. In addition, there was a report from the NIWRC about national initiatives that are available to all Tribes, their work with the Native Hawaiian women in establishing a resource center, and how Restoration magazine can be utilized to keep updated on important issues, laws, and policies. The Indian Law Resource Center provided updates on the international front, climate meetings, and upcoming United Nations events and initiatives on gender-based violence issues.
We have created new printed educational materials and continue to develop new and expanded partnerships to strengthen the voices of Alaska Native people throughout the nation.
–Tamra Truett Jerue, AKNWRC Executive Director
The bittersweet highlight of the day was honoring the life of Shirley Moses as the first recipient of the newly created annual Tribal Advocacy Award. Shirley, who passed away earlier this year, was one of the founding members and co-chair of AKNWRC along with many other titles and credits to her name. Participants enjoyed a slideshow of Shirley and were able to share special memories of her as a friend, mother, auntie, and mentor. She made a big impact on many and her presence was and will continue to be greatly missed. However, her legacy of advocacy will live on.
We do not know what 2022 will hold and whether the Unity meeting will be virtual or in-person again. What is known is the AKWNRC will continue to work with communities and partners to improve access to resources and raise awareness about the disproportionate rate of gender-based violence to our communities. Executive Director, Tamra Truett Jerue summed up the commitment and tenacity of the staff and partners as 2021 closes, “We believe in our communities and our survivors. We are excited to offer several virtual webinars about a variety of topics that will help increase awareness and build capacity in Tribal communities. We have created new printed educational materials and continue to develop new and expanded partnerships to strengthen the voices of Alaska Native people throughout the nation.”
