Despite barriers to justice, Native women persevere

[ccharles000]

She needs to call 911. She needs police to arrest the drunken boyfriend who assaulted her. She needs to go to the hospital, because she might be pregnant and he might be HIV-positive. And she needs a lawyer.

She could be one of so many women on Native reservations, where alcoholism and domestic violence often are rampant. In fact, Amnesty International reported in 2007 that Native women were 2 1/2 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

Yet when a Native woman dials 911, a series of legal obstacles arise. Many stem from laws governing tribes -- laws that can amplify the horror of sexual assault on Native reservations.

Among them is a 1950s federal regulation allowing government agencies, such as Indian Health Services, to avoid testifying in state and tribal courts.

The perceived benefit: Less courtroom involvement keeps agencies neutral.

But critics say information being withheld can include forensic evidence that could convict a rapist.

http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/article_a0d7b272-f4c4-11de-88b3-001cc4c002e0.html

[jwirr]

1. I have asked for help with my great grandchildren who are being

at the least neglected and at the most being abused. You have to go to the local county social services who take the complaint and have to hand it over to the tribal authorities who are supposed to look into it. The county told me point blank that the tribe would do nothing about it because they do not want the children taken away. The tribal authorities are also elected and do not want to rock the boat. And that is exactly what happened. This is even mores so if the accused is a friend or family member of the accused.

The tribal authorities are often the enablers of a lot of stuff going on out here on the reservations and they are the first to blame it on outside authorities. By the time we get those children in a safe home it will be too late.