December 2017 Newsletter

SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER BY DONATING TO THE GIVING TREE 

CSVANW will partner once again this year with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's Shumakolowa Gift Shop for the 3rd Annual Giving Tree Book Drive. This holiday season we are committed to helping our children who have experienced or witnessed violence cope through promoting cultural connections and storytelling. 

Each year, the Giving Tree Book Drive serves to benefit children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves spending their holidays in a shelter due to domestic violence. Since its inception, CSVANW and Shumakolowa have donated more than 700 new Native American themed books for shelters throughout New Mexico.
 
"Providing books for children and their families helps create a sense of normalcy- we are giving children an escape from the trauma they may have been exposed to while directly or indirectly witnessing violence in their homes. Really, what we are doing is trying to help kids, be kids this holiday season," says Angel Charley, Membership and Outreach Coordinator for the Coalition.
 
"Studies show that children who witness violence in their homes may exhibit adjustment difficulties. These children also often have lower self-esteem and are prone to anxiousness, worry and fear. Reading provides a safe escape for them and an opportunity for connection," says Charley. "The simple act of reading a story where a child may identify with the protagonist begins a healing process. We specifically partner with Shumakolowa because they are able to provide culturally-relevant options for our young readers."

To purchase a book for donation, Click Here.  At checkout please enter code GIVINGTREE2017  and choose GIVINGTREE2017 as your shipping method.  

Friday
by Angel Charley
 
We arrived at the woman's shelter in the city. Far way from home. Since there were four of us- we got our own room. Two bunkbeds covered with burnt orange rough-to-the-touch blankets. It smelled like sand drowning in cleaning supplies. Mom unpacked the world of four into the one dresser we would now share. She cried. So I cried. 
 
It wasn't too long before we got the hang of it. I made new friends in the giant dirt courtyard. They shared their limited worldly belongings with me, and I, in turn, shared mine with them. A Lisa Frank trapper keeper was friend-making-gold back then. We knew why one another called this place "home" and we were all a little kinder for it. We shared our new home like a family would.

But, we all knew we wanted to be back in our real homes, surrounded by our own things, in our own rooms- lost in childhood.

Then one afternoon as the sun began to hide behind the eastern buildings, shining the same burnt orange like those itchy blankets on my bunkbed- my new friends and I were called to a room we hadn't been shown yet. The library. Read More.  

REMEMBERING OUR RELATIVES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
by Cheyenne Antonio

This winter season, the New Mexico Tribal Trafficking Taskforce plans to  contribute  items gathered through the Womxn Donation drive to NM Street Safe. This drive is a continuation to help our womxn relatives on the streets with jackets, shoes, condoms, personal hygiene, scarves, gloves, beanies, blankets, sleeping bags, and chocolates. It's important to know that in doing street outreach, our Native sisters are often times surprised to see another Native womxn helping Street Safe. Locations across Albuquerque are set to collect donations, to find out where to drop off donations click here .

A REFLECTION: ZERO TO 60
by Team CSVANW

In November, the #CSVANWTeam took the Notah Begay III Foundation's Zero to 60 Challenge. A challenge that called on us to eliminate sugary drinks (sodas, sports drinks, juice drinks, sugary coffee, etc.) for 30 days and drink 60 ounces or more of water each day. Supporting our families and our communities in this challenge, our CSVANW team pledged to support this challenge because we know that water is life. We support NB3F and the vision of healthy kids and healthy futures!
 
We know that drinking water has many benefits, but it also created a culture of conversation within our team as we checked in on the challenge each week during our team meetings. Water increases energy and relieves fatigue. It has the power to promote weight loss, flush out toxins, improve skin complexion and boost our immune systems. When anyone visited our CSVANW offices, we made sure to offer them water. This challenged even improved our office hospitality.
 
Read some of the feedback that the CSVANW team provided on the NB3F Zero to Sixty Challenge here

2017 STATE OF NATIVE YOUTH
By Keioshiah Peter 
 
In November, The Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute released the 2nd Annual report titled "2017 State of Native Youth Report: Our Identities as Civic Power" which looks at the intersection of Native youth identities and civic engagement. The report takes into account the colonial institutions that enact political, governmental, and systematic threats against Native people, land, and resources (11). It also examines our Natives youth's role in mobilizing, organizing and healing communities through resilience from culture and identity (11).

We highly recommend using this report as a gain insight on key issues that matter to Native youth, to understand challenges and barriers to success that Native youth face, and to recognize how they are collaborating with their communities to build resilience and leadership (12). It comes to no surprise that this report works to highlight the amazing work that Native youth do in their communities to mobilize and organize around issues that are pertinent to their livelihood and strengthen their nations. Through roundtable conversations and online survey participation, CNAY has identified that Native youth see health and wellness, systems that involve youth, education and jobs, and sacred sites, land and waterways as important to protecting and strengthening Native communities (14).

If you are interested in learning more about building and creating opportunities for Native youth, feel free to check out the report on the CNAY website

CSVANW HOLDS 40 HOUR ADVANCING ADVOCACY TRAINING   ALBUQUERQUE
ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Advancing Advocacy is the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women's 40-hour core advocacy training for NM state certification that focuses on providing the foundational skills for advocates and first responders who work in the domestic violence fields both with, and within, all of New Mexico's tribal communities. 

This 40-hour brought attendees from across the region while they explored the dynamics of domestic violence in tribal communities, historical trauma, human trafficking of Native women and children, orders of protection, domestic violence against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, safety planning and confidentiality, and the impacts of domestic violence on Native children. The training also focuses on the role of advocates and teaches self-care skills to enable advocates to be champions for the victim while maintaining a healthy mind and spirit.

CSVANW HOSTS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AT WIND RIVER SCREENING
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
 
A movie that shed light on the magnitude of missing and murdered Indigenous women in our tribal communities to mainstream audiences, CSVANW partnered with Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) for an advanced screening of the blockbuster, Wind River. 
 
The Coalition staff held a critical discussion around murdered and missing Native women following the screening on SIPI campus. The event was sponsored by SIPI Student Council. The event brought out both community members, students and staff.  

MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMXN
CROWNPOINT, NM

As a part of Native Heritage Month, CSVANW's Youth Coordinator was asked to present at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, NM. The topic was Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women #MMIW. 

CSVANW would like to t hank you to Navajo Technical University for inviting us to hold space to talk about Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women on campus! Also, thank you to all the participants and students that came in support.


ISLETA SOCIAL SERVICES WRAPS UP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
ISLETA, NM

Isleta Pueblo's Social Services Programs wrapped up their active Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign with a huge grocery bingo event for the entire community. 

CSVANW was on hand to support and present on Healthy Relationships to the nearly 100 participants. Thank you to all who donated and participated to such a successful Domestic Violence Awareness Month Campaign! 

INDIGENOUS YOUTH POWER IN ACTION
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women's Youth Coordinator, Keioshiah Peter, was invited to participate in the panel discussion, "Indigenous Youth Power in Action" held in Albuquerque, NM on November 17th. The opportunity was made possible by Funders' Collaborative  on Youth Organizing. 

The panelists consisted of young Indigenous organizers from the  Navajo Nation and South Dakota and was moderated by Sara Eagleheart from Natives in Philanthropy. The panel discussed issues that are affecting Indigenous youth and land highlight the work being down in their communities. 

CSVANW ED SELECTED FOR MOVEMENT TO END VIOLENCE COHORT 

CSVANW executive director, Deleana OtherBull, was named one of 21 leaders across the nation who will participate in the fourth cycle of the Move to End Violence, a two-year leadership program from the NoVo Foundation that unites innovative leaders who are bringing visionary solutions across the intersections of many of the most powerful movements to end violence in all its forms, including domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation, sexual assault, environmental injustice and more.  Read More.

FIT WEEK CHALLENGE  
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

The Coalition team accepted the Notah Begay III Foundation's call to action and kicked off the second week of November off by creating a Healthy Activities schedule to participate in the challenge. Our week consisted of healthy meals, drinking lots of water and even an in office YouTube yoga session! 

Taking care of ourselves is important. We undertook the challenge because we advocate for healthy families in our everyday work- it was only natural that we align our habits with our goals. When we have healthy families, we have have healthy communities. Another big thank you to NB3 for reminding us to be mindful when it comes to our bodies, habits and health! 

NEW MEXICO TRIBAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE ALLIANCE (NMTSVA) 
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

On Monday, November 27, 2017, CSVANW hosted the New Mexico Tribal Sexual Violence Alliance (NMTSVA) for their second committee meeting. This new multi-disciplinary team of professionals is committed to identifying and addressing the gaps and solutions related to sexual violence response in New Mexico tribal communities and increasing access to culturally appropriate services.

The committee will meet quarterly on the last Monday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2018. For more information, please contact D evona Bradford. 


If interested in a CSVANW Employment Opportunity, please send your resume, letter of interest and 3 references to info@csvanw.org.


CSVANW WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER!
THERESA ORTIZ
 
RIO RANCHO, NM 

CSVANW is excited to welcome Theresa Ortiz to our Board of Directors! Theresa is the Health Services Director for Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc.  She is from Isleta Pueblo and Hopi; and grew up  within the Pueblo of Isleta. Growing up, Theresa witnessed domestic violence within her home; it was something that her mother experienced as a young bride and mother of young children. As Theresa learned more about her mother's experience, she learned that her mother did not have any help, but went through this very heartbreaking experience alone. Theresa centered her own experiences and those of her mother, and through the awareness, she developed a passion for advocacy.   
 
Theresa's mother later shared that there was no help for Native women who were experiencing the violence she went through. Theresa has always felt that in her heart, this was her purpose: to help those who may be were vulnerable, may not have a voice, and felt helpless in their situations, specifically for women who have been violated and who have been abused. She feels it is very important that we have every opportunity to teach and empower our women of every generation by acknowledging their value and worth as Native women. 
 
Because of her mother, Theresa pursued her education, receiving a BA in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and then a Masters in Social Work from New Mexico State University.  She is a Licensed Social Worker and is currently working on attaining her Independent License.   She is a mother of three:  Joe, a freshman at the Air Force Academy; Melanie, a senior at Cibola High School, and Jeremiah, an 8th grader at Taylor Middle School.  She is also a breast cancer survivor and a survivor of sexual assault.  Her hope is to bring the awareness and education of domestic violence and sexual assault to the forefront of the communities that she works within so that we may provide those with a voice and support needed to become a survivor.
 
Please join CSVANW in welcoming Theresa to our team!! To learn more about FSIP, Inc. check out their website here





















CSVANW Board of Directors 

CHARLENE TSOODLE-MARCUS
Executive Director for
PeaceKeepers of ENIPC
Board Chair

LORRAINE EDMO
Former Tribal Deputy Director
of the Dept of Justice (retired)
Board Vice Chair

DAN LUCERO
Tribal Secretary, Pueblo of Taos
Board Treasurer

COLEEN WIDELL
Executive Director,
Integrated Research Services 
Board Secretary

KENA CHAVEZ
VOICES Program Manager
Board Member

HEIDI TODACHEENE 
Management Analyst,
Department of Indian Affairs
Board Member

THERESA ORTIZ
Health Services Director
Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos
Board Member

OLIVIA ROANHORSE
Director of Native Strong @ NB3F
Board Member

JOANNIE ROMERO 
Continuing Education Manager,
Institute of American Indian Art 
Board Member



CSVANW Team

DELEANA OTHERBULL
Executive Director

KIM BENALLY
Training & Development Manager

ANGEL CHARLEY
Membership & Outreach Coordinator

DEVONA BRADFORD
Sexual Assault Project Coordinator

CHEYENNE ANTONIO
Project Coordinator-
Trafficking

KEIOSHIAH PETER
Native Youth Coordinator

CURTISON BADONIE
Project and Media Assistant

VACANT 
Office Coordinator

  VACANT
 Intern from NIYC

ROBIN HUGHES 
Bookkeeper and Accounting