Honors Indigenous women
The annual Break the Silence domestic violence awareness march was held Oct. 18 before the start of the 24th Navajo Nation Council’s 2021 Fall Session in Window Rock, Ariz.
The walk was held from the Navajo Nation Museum to the Navajo Nation Council Chambers.
“Our Navajo women are plagued by domestic violence and in response, there continues to be a lack of support from the Navajo government to meet the growing needs of our families,” Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty (Cove, Toadlena/Two Grey Hills, Red Valley, Tsé’ałnáoozt’i’í, Sheepsprings, Beclabito, Gad’ii’áhí/Tó Kǫ’í), said. ).“Our women are powerful beings and our voices must be heard.
Crotty leads the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives task force that is developing a framework for a proposed MMDR data institute and the development of a missing persons community action tool kit to empower communities.
“This march is to break the silence of the victims and to uplift the voices of the survivors as we heal together,” she said.
“Every family in some way has been affected by domestic violence, systemic racism, and some form of injustice,” Speaker Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Łichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh), said. “We support this march to end domestic violence and to bring awareness to the stories of survivors.’
According to the United States Justice Department, Indigenous women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than the national average while more than four out of five Indigenous women have experienced violence. In addition, more than 56 percent of Indigenous women experience sexual violence.
The 24th Navajo Nation Council’s 2021 Fall Session will feature days of awareness to prevent domestic violence, bullying, and breast cancer while honoring boarding school survivors and the missing and murdered Diné relatives across the country.
Staff Reports
