From: andre cramblit <andrekar@...>
Subject: Violence Against Women (abuse)



Domestic Violence And Native American Women
KOTV - 1/4/2007 9:59 AM - Updated 1/5/2007 12:12 PM

Good news in the fight against domestic violence, a recent government
study found partner abuse rates fell by more than half since the early
1990’s. But the numbers aren't looking up for everyone.

The US Justice Department study says Native American rates haven't
dropped. In fact, American Indian women are three times more likely to
become victims of domestic violence.

News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin has one woman's story.

“It was just one little hit at the first then it progressively got
worse. He would beat me just until he got one good hit, then he'd be
okay, he'd stop, but the last time he wasn't stopping at all." She says
he didn't stop until police dragged him away, leaving her black and blue
with a broken eye socket.

After months of abuse, she says she finally realized it wasn't her fault
and that gave her the strength to leave. "Every other time he'd been
able to convince me in some manner that it was my fault that he was
mad."

This former victim is not alone and as a Native American she's part of
the group most at risk. Dianne Hughes: "The Native Americans that are
involved in these statistics we see are in a multi-generational cycle of
domestic violence and abuse."

Hughes says about 90-percent of the women she sees here are in some type
of abusive relationship and many don't even realize it." Hughes says
that's because for many of the women she treats, abuse has become the
norm. "We see that they have very poor role models, there is absolutely
no positive reinforcement, we also see that education is not a
priority."

Higher rates drug, alcohol abuse and poverty may be to blame. This woman
says all were part of her history of violent relationships. Some health
professionals believe it may be tied to a history that dates farther
back. Dianne Hughes: "Native Americans have this internal oppression of
history, of what's been going on, in a treatment that's gone on for
generations and now it's self-imposed on them, not being worthy, not
mattering, low self-esteem."

Victim: "If they have ever laid a hand on you, leave, cause it's not
going to get better, it's only gonna get worse."

The victim tells the News on 6, despite encouraging other victims she
meets to leave, she says they just won't until it gets bad enough.
Unfortunately, sometimes that's too late.

If you need help, call 911 or a 24-hour shelter hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.ndvh.org/



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