Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. EDT | Quaker Welcome Center or Online

Columbus Day overlooks a painful colonial history and minimizes the important contributions made by Indigenous peoples throughout this continent’s history. That’s why FCNL has chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead.

Following Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 14th, we will come together on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the importance of the holiday and highlight FCNL’s history of witness on Native American concerns.

We invite you to join us for an evening of dialogue, education, and advocacy, as our Quaker Change Maker series continues. Attend in-person at FCNL’s Quaker Welcome Center, or join the conversation online via Zoom.

There is no charge to attend, but an RSVP is encouraged for planning purposes. If you sign up to watch from home, we will send instructions for viewing.

RSVP to attend in person at the Quaker Welcome Center  ›

RSVP to watch from home via Zoom  ›

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Legislative Ask: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act with Strong Provisions for Native Women

Goals for VAWA 2019 Reauthorization: Expanding Victim Protections

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) addresses violence and sexual assault by providing the resources and services necessary for public safety. This bill is especially significant for Native American communities as it restores tribal jurisdiction over non-Indian assailants for crimes of domestic violence.

The House recently passed H.R. 1585, a VAWA reauthorization bill which included strong provisions protecting Native communities. The Senate must now introduce a reauthorization of VAWA with the same strong tribal provisions as H.R. 1585. This reauthorization should expand the current Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction to protect children, tribal law enforcement officers, and victims of all forms of violence including: sexual assault, sex trafficking, stalking, and child abuse.

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On November 20, 2018, Shari Hrdnia, Sid Barfot, Christine Nobiss, Shazi and Fox Knight, and Jeff Kisling met with Carol Olson, Senator Chuck Grassley’s State Director at the Federal Building in Des Moines. Two of Senator Grassley’s staff from Washington, DC, joined us via a conference call. The meeting was a chance for us to get to know each other and find ways we can work with Senator Grassley and others to pass legislation to support Native American communities.

During this meeting, Jeff Kisling talked about the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the SURVIVE Act. Christine Nobiss spoke about the racism and violence against Native women and Savanna’s Act. Everyone else then contributed to the discussions.

There were two pieces of legislation in Congress at that time related to Native Affairs. One is the SURVIVE Act which is intended to get more funds from the Victims of Crime Act to Native communities. The second is Savanna’s Act, which allows tribal police forces to have jurisdiction over non-Native people on Native land, access to criminal databases and expanded collection of crime statistics. Senator Grassley was involved in the passage of the Victims of Crime Act.