Letter from our CSVANW Executive Director |
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Gu’wat’zee Relatives,
This year for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I would like to share a piece my story with you – a story that holds so much meaning when I reflect on this year’s theme: Breaking Silence, Building Generations. My hope in centering this reflection is that we begin to imagine and co-create a future so rooted in love and so free from violence that we deepen our collective commitment to building up generations of Indigenous families in beauty and abundance.
It is possible and this is my story.
I was in the kindergarten the very first time I walked through the doors of a domestic violence shelter. I didn’t know where I was, but I knew how my family got there- I understood so much about violence by the age of six. The police had come to my house, again, to break up another fight. This time though, we left.
I was told to gather everything I needed in a rush. I knew I didn’t need my Lisa Frank sticker notebook and was too afraid to ask if I could bring it…so I stuffed it under my shirt, crossed my arms to hide it, and got into the back of a car for a long drive into the city.
I looked to my mom. She cried, so I cried. It was a powerful lesson in letting go of all the emotion welled up inside. She breathed deep, so I inhaled too. It was time for change and I felt it.
In my mind, this was the day my family began our journey toward restoring ourselves. Our path had shifted forever, and while I would like to say it was magically and immediately better, it was not. That’s just not how change happens, it takes time, love and intention. One thing that did change immediately was my family finally had a support system to hold us through our deepest unknowns.
Our silence had forever been broken. And, over time I joined the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women to work alongside our amazing staff and Members who are all working toward ending violence in our families, communities and systems. My journey led me back to that very same shelter nearly 30 years later, but this time it was as the executive director of the Coalition. It is because of my own family’s experience that I know we are capable of building generations who will transcend resiliency and thrive in healing when given the support they need.
So, as we come together this month to honor our resistance of violence, I ask you to join me in imagining what the future holds for all generations who are yet to come. Because what we hope for is not just a dream but an intention that we are speaking into truth.
Da’waa’ee,
Angel
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2021 Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Breaking Silence, Building Generations
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In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women(CSVANW) invites Survivors, advocates, service providers, community members, and Tribal leaders to join us in breaking the silence and raise awareness of domestic violence/intimate partner violence in New Mexico tribal communities.
This DAVM, CSVANW invites you to join the movement to break the silence and build a safe and healthy generation. We also invite you to honor and support the Cycle Breakers in our lives and communities who continue to advocate for survivors and community. Especially our Cycle Breakers who are dismantling Indigenous invisibility in spaces that we have long been overlooked and not represented.
Our DVAM 2021 webpage holds some important information on how to get involved this DVAM with CSVANW. Here you will find upcoming trainings and events.
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Sexual Violence Against Native Women: Past and Present
September 15, 2021
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Our sexual violence project coordinator, Floripa Olguin, was a guest speaker at the Sexual Violence Against Native Women: Past and Present. Unlike women of all other racial groups, Native women are more likely to be sexually assaulted by people who are not Native. Sexual violence against Native women has a deep, brutal history in the United States, beginning with Christopher Columbus and the colonization of Native land. In this training, participants learned about sexual violence against Native women, the history of colonization, and sexual violence as a tool of oppression. |
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National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools
September 30, 2021
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On National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools CSVANW wore orange to show their support & help bring awareness & honor boarding school survivors & those we lost. Our Indigenous children are valuable, sacred, & critical to our future. We must protect, love, listen to & believe our Indigenous children! |
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Garden Box Giveaway
September 4, 2021
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Our CSVANW Indigenous Seed Library partnered with Food is Free Albuquerque , Soilutionsons_505 , and FUSE Makerspace to put on this garden giveaway event here in Abq for urban Native so they can learn to grow their own food.
CSVANW recognizes that food insecurity and hunger are violence. Creating access to our Indigenous foodways to Natives in NM is nurturing our land body connection as well as working to address hunger. This would not be possible without the wonderful folks at First Nations Development Institute.
Thank you Jovita Belgarde for working to end the violence of food insecurity and hunger. CSVANW thanks all the staff and volunteers who made this garden giveaway possible.
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Eight Northern Native Youth Summit
September 2021
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Santa Clara Pueblo and CSVANW held the 2021 Eight Northern Native Youth Summit last week where Native youth built leadership skills around violence prevention like consent, setting boundaries, ally-ship, and using their voices. Our graphic artist, Joe Stacey, captured some of the great moments from the summit. |
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Southwest Butterflies Retreat
September 15 & 16, 2021
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Thank you to the youth that joined us for our Southwest Butterflies Retreat. We enjoyed sharing space with you, exploring the dynamics of genderqueer Indigenous Youth and gender/land violence. Our SW Butterflies retreat went over Native LGBTQ2S+ history, trans 101, art, and more.
Check out the awesome graphic recording of the event by F.A. Marie!
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Follow us on social media to stay updated when CSVANW is in the community. |
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MY VIEW JOVITA BELGARDE
Invest now to address suicide crisis
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There is an epidemic growing in New Mexico not being talked about in mainstream media — the growth in suicide among Indigenous youth. But with September being the National Suicide Prevention Month, it is time we address this head-on systematically, otherwise our Native communities will continue to suffer.
Suicide has been gravely impacting New Mexico. In 2018 alone, New Mexico had the highest rate of suicide in the nation and it has been increasing every year since then. Most unfortunate, suicide impacts our youth disproportionately — especially Indigenous youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
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Native American mother speaks out on missing 27-year-old daughter, who was last seen March 2020 |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Native American mother is desperately searching for answers after her 27-year-old daughter went missing in Albuquerque more than a year ago.
Anita King says she fights back tears anytime she thinks about her daughter, Pepita Redhair.
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THANK YOU
TO OUR CHANGE MAKERS
October 2021 DONORS
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General contributions and donations from individual supporters and organizational partners are essential for CSVANW's sustainability and effectiveness. Your donation helps make it possible for us to cultivate and strengthen our ability to advocate for Native women and children and breaking of cycles of violence. |
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October 23 & 24, 2021
REGISTER TODAY!
Our annual I Will Run for Them virtual 5K Run/Walk & 1K Kid awareness run honors the resilience, strength & spirit of our Native relatives impacted by domestic violence. We go virtual again this year to support the health of our communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Like last year, participants will have two days (October 23rd & 24th, 2021) to complete a 5K run, jog, walk and/or any form of movement that they are able to and have access to in their home community connecting with the land that cares for them. LEARN MORE
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DV & Advocacy in NM Tribal Communities
October 7, 2021
Virtual Event
This training will focus on the general dynamics of domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV), Safe & Together Model, and advocacy in tribal communities.
This training is tailored to support and inform our members and New Mexico service providers who work with survivors of DV/IPV (victim advocates, law enforcement, judicial staff, counselors, social workers, and others in related fields of work).
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Breaking Silence: DV & IPV in Tribal Communities
October 20, 2021
Virtual Event
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We will be discussing the cycles of domestic violence and intimate partner violence with focus on tribal communities in New Mexico. Next, we want to honor cycle breakers and provide resources on how to support victims, survivors, and cycle breakers. More information coming soon! |
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Land Violence is Body Violence: Confronting Colonization, Extractive Industries, & MMIW
October 21, 2021
Virtual Event
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This workshop will focus on how extractive industries on the Navajo Nation perpetuates violence against Native women and the missing and murdered crisis in the Four Corners region and border town areas. Additionally, we will also discuss the dynamics of man-camps and sex trafficking on or near Native communities that have targeted women, girls, transgender, 2-spirit, and male relatives. |
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Building Generation: Healthy Families
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
1PM – 2PM (MDT)
Virtual event
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We will be discussing the dynamics of a healthy family, building towards a healthy family, and boundaries. We want to be able to provide a discussion on how families can break cycles of domestic violence and intimate partner violence with a focus on strengths from tribal communities. |
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Advancing Core Advocacy Training in Tribal Communities for New Advocates
November 16, 17 & 18, 2021
Virtual Event
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Our Core Advocacy Training supplements fundamental skills and knowledge building for new advocates serving New Mexico tribal communities. Our three-day (24-hrs) virtual training is in combination with 16.25 hrs of OVC-TTAC Training, which you must complete to attain your Certificate of Completion (40 completed hours) from the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. CSVANW is 1 of 2 entities to provide state certified training for new domestic violence advocates in New Mexico.
CSVANW aims to help New Mexico-based advocates and first responders to work together effectively in times of crisis. The Advancing Core Advocacy Training in Tribal Communities is an introductory training designed for advocates who are new to their position or have been in their position less than 2 years and have not received state certification.
Advocates will need to have access to a stable Internet connection to see the training presentations, material, and to be present virtually via Zoom. Call-ins by phone will not count toward the core advocacy certification, unless utilizing it for audio purposes along with your video.
CSVANW's service area is the state of New Mexico, the Four Corners Regions (northeastern AZ, southeastern UT, and southwestern CO), and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, TX. If you are located out of our service area and interested in the training, please contact us at 505-243-9199 or email jholgate@csvanw.org so we can put you in touch with an organization in your region. Unfortunately, advocates outside of our service area will not be eligible for certification.
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#PurpleThursday
Thursday, October 21, 2021
#PurpleThursday is a national day of action each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and an easy way for people to show their commitment to promoting healthy relationships.
Please join the movement, wear purple, be a voice, & start a conversation about domestic violence!
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DVAM Instagram Challenge
There are many ways to get involved this October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), CSVANW invites advocates, Survivors, supporters, and all to get involved on Instagram. Break the silence by responding to daily prompts in creative ways for you to raise awareness & education community. Together, let’s break the silence and build a healthy generation.
We will reward a $50 Etsy gift card to who ever responds most to the daily prompts.
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Keep checking back for more opportunities here. |
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Follow us on Social Media |
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