A letter by Cheri Hardeman
CDSVRP Client Advocate for SNDV Program

April is sexual assault awareness month and according to Amnesty International, native women are 2.5 times more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be victims of sexual assault.

Another interesting government statistic is that the perpetrators are more likely to be non-natives. At least 86% of reported rapes or other sexual assaults against native women are committed by non-Indian men who are rarely prosecuted, according to Amnesty’s “Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA” report. This amounts to revictimization in the worst form – no justice for the victim.

The Seminole Nation Domestic Violence Program’s mission is to empower both Native American and Non-Native families in breaking the cycle of violence through helping families understand different types of abuse, finding safe housing and obtaining healthy relationships that do not involve manipulation or control of another person.

During the month of April, the SNDV Program will be handing out sexual assault awareness ribbons. They can be picked up at the SNDV office if anyone would like to show their support.

If you or someone else is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, please contact the Seminole Nation Domestic Violence Program at (405)382-3762.