Speaking Our Truth - Podcast For Change

On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, we listen Part 2 of STTARS' presentation introducing the new Indigenous Safe Housing Center from NIWRC's Specialty Institute held in June 2022.

On January 18, 2022, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Merle Denezpi. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will dig deeper into this case and what this amicus brief is all about

The state of Alaska is considered one of the most violent states in the country. The state also has the highest number of missing Indigenous people, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Grassroots advocates from American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes calling for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women have finally started gaining national attention. In fact, after years of grassroots advocacy, in October 2020, Congress passed Savanna’s Act. This Act is meant to improve the response to missing and murdered Indigenous women across federal, state, Tribal and local law enforcement agencies. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk about the current status of Savanna’s Act and what this legislation means for our Alaska Native sisters.

In November, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center will reflect on its first 10 years of the movement for the safety of Native women. As a special podcast series, we are talking with members of NIWRC’s board of directors about the highlights and accomplishments made over the past decade. On this special episode of Speaking Our Truth, we will talk with NIWRC’s Board Treasurer about what it means to carry our medicine in this work, past, present and future.

Music: "I Am Light" | Album: Songversation (2013) | Artist: India.Arie
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL-gxfx2QtY

In November, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center will reflect on its first 10 years of the movement for the safety of Native women. As a special podcast series, we are talking with members of NIWRC’s board of directors about the highlights and accomplishments made over the past decade. On this special episode of Speaking Our Truth, we will talk with NIWRC’s Board Chairwoman about what it means to carry our medicine in this work, past, present and future.

Music: "Calling The Spirit Back" | Album: I Pray for My Enemies (2021) | Artist: Joy Harjo
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJzNymGOIQ

This year, 2021, marks a decade of advocacy by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center. This is an important milestone as NIWRC reflects back on its first 10 years and looks forward to the next ten. As a special podcast series of Speaking Our Truth, we are speaking with members of our board of directors about the past decade of this work. In this episode, we are talking with NIWRC’s Board Secretary about carrying our medicine forward in the movement for safety for Native women and strengthening sovereignty for Tribal Nations.

Music: "Calling The Spirit Back" | Album: I Pray for My Enemies (2021) | Artist: Joy Harjo
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJzNymGOIQ

Over the past four years, StrongHearts Native Helpline has responded to more than 11,000 calls, texts and chat requests from Native peoples in need. As the first, culturally grounded domestic violence, dating violence and sexual violence helpline by and for Native people, it has rapidly grown, establishing itself as a strong, vocal advocate in the movement for safety in tribal communities. Today on Speaking Our Truth, we will talk about the road to StrongHearts Native Helpline becoming an independent organization.

Music: "Si Hasapa" | Album: Ksa (2007) | Artist: Tiokasin Ghosthorse

From the beginning of the pandemic, advocates sounded the alarm about the risk of increasing domestic violence and sexual violence. Those who were hurting were now confined to their homes with their abusers for longer periods of time. Fueled by these realities, our relatives at StrongHearts Native Helpline have been working around the clock to increase staffing and add services to assist Native people during this crisis.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but the crisis of sexual violence against Native women is ongoing, remaining one of the lasting effects of the colonization of Indigenous peoples. On this episode of Speaking our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk about the high rates of sexual violence against our Alaska Native sisters in particular, as well as the action needed to turn the tide of sexual assault in Alaska.

Native American Heritage Month is an important time for recognizing the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous people and Native Nations. On this episode of Speaking Our Truth, Podcast for Change, we will talk to some prominent voices in the work for Indigenous peoples rights and the challenges facing our people today, tomorrow, and for the next generation.

Music: Robert Mirabal's "The Dance" performed with Rare Tribal Mob on PBS
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_znb0MlHTY)
Song: The Dance
Artist: Robert Mirabal
Album: Music From A Painted Cave
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