Mending the Sacred Hoop is a Native American organization founded by Native women to help stop domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking problems – both nationally and within its home state of Minnesota – as these issues are extremely prevalent in Native American communities. Mending the Hoop offers training to improve Tribal and Native responses to these crimes. It also attempts to promote community awareness of the issues, encourages men to become involved in their work, and advocates for greater accountability for those who perpetrate these crimes.
The following “What Frames Our Work” segment has been taken directly from the Mending the Hoop website (copied verbatim):
“What Frames Our Work
- Native women are the highest victimized population in the United States by perpetrators of all races. (Bureau of Crime Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. American Indians and Crime Report. Washington: 1999).
- Violence against women is a social problem that affects individuals, families, and communities (including schools, medical, and judicial institutions), and as such, requires societal change.
- Domestic and sexual violence is about establishing power and maintaining control.
- Colonization is based in a belief that one group has the right to exert their will over another and use people and resources for their own gain.
- Acculturated values and beliefs have eroded our Indigenous structures and life ways.
- We have to reclaim our own Indigenous teachings on culture and values to create social change in and for our communities.”
I believe that this organization is a wonderful example of how members of a specific cultural group – tired of being discounted – can organize and advocate for themselves. These Native American women are working to eradicate a very big problem that exists in their own community. I especially like one of the missions of the organization…. “
MENDING THE SACRED HOOP works from a social change perspective to end violence against Native women and children while restoring the safety, sovereignty, and sacredness of Native women (http://mshoop.org/).”