"July 29, 2010 was a special day for American Indian people. President Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act, which will provide tribes with greater authority to prosecute crimes on reservations and hold federal authorities accountable for their efforts (or lack thereof) in investigating and prosecuting crime in Indian Country.

An emotional Lisa Marie Iyotte of the Rosebud Sioux tribe introduced President Obama at the bill signing ceremony. Iyotte works at the Sicangu Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, where she speaks on behalf of victimized Indian and Alaska Native women. She is also a sexual assault survivor who never saw her perpetrator brought to justice. Federal authorities declined to prosecute the crime or even interview her. (Her perpetrator was eventually arrested and convicted for assaulting another victim.) She said she is hopeful that the TLOA will prevent cases like hers from happening again.

The general public was shocked to learn of the high rates of sexual assault against Indian women. The news hit the headlines in 2007 after Amnesty International published their Maze of Injustice Report: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women in the U.S. The Report found that 1 in 3 Indian women will be raped in their lifetimes. This represents the highest rate of sexual assault for any ethnicity in this country.

I and all the Indian women I know want to know, however, who those other two women are who haven’t been assaulted -- because we’ve never met them. The truth is that it’s been open season on Indian women for a very, very long time.

It took far too long for the U. S. to notice or care. I’m not ungrateful but am profoundly sad for the pain we have endured in silence for so many generations. Indian women have not talked about sexual assault, not even to each other. We haven’t gone to the police or even the hospital unless absolutely necessary. We have found neither justice nor healing through the justice system, only more shame, blame and disappointment. Our families have often not supported us. So we showered and went on, until now."

Get the Story:
Mary Annette Pember: Tribes Gain New Clout against Crime (The Daily Yonder 8/12)

Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act:
H.R.725

Tribal Law and Order Act:
S.797 | H.R.1924

Related Stories:
Colville Tribes praise enhanced court sentencing under new law (8/11)
Crime statistics difficult to locate for Indian Country in California (8/9)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act boosts law enforcement effort (8/9)
Rosebud Sioux advocate cites high declination of assault incidents (8/6)
Sen. Begich introduces bill to cover Alaska tribal law enforcement (8/6)
Dress worn by Rosebud woman to White House comes with history (8/5)
Ms. Blog: How Native women created the Tribal Law and Order Act (8/5)
Republican claims Tribal Law and Order Act was a 'backroom' deal (8/5)
Alaska tribes open to officer grants under Tribal Law and Order Act (8/5)
NPR: Obama signs Tribal Law and Order Act into law at White House (8/3)
Attorney calls Tribal Law and Order Act a step in the right direction (8/3)
Troy Eid: Tribal Law and Order Act responds to unfairness in justice (8/3)
Opinion: Tribal Law and Order Act marks victory for Indian Country (8/3)
Color Lines: Tribal Law and Order Act should benefit Native women (8/3)
Mark Trahant: Tribal Law and Order Act only one part of the picture (8/2)
San Manuel Band won't see change with Tribal Law and Order Act (8/2)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act addresses centuries of neglect (8/2)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act long overdue in Indian Country (8/2)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act provides for safer communities (8/2)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act brings justice to Indian Country (8/2)
Another Republican complains about Tribal Law and Order process (7/30)
WHBlog: Tribal Law and Order Act a step forward for Native women (7/30)
ICT Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act offers hope in Indian Country (7/30)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act a good first step in South Dakota (7/30)
Interview: Sen. Murkowski on need for the Tribal Law and Order Act (7/30)
Blog: Tribal Law and Order Act empowers women to combat assault (7/30)
NPR: Tribal Law and Order Act boosts law efforts for Indian Country (7/30)
Opinion: Obama, the Tribal Law and Order Act and immigration laws (7/30)
White House ceremony for Tribal Law and Order Act this afternoon (7/29)
Blog: Republicans ought to explain Tribal Law and Order opposition (7/29)
Meskwaki woman questions GOP vote against Tribal Law and Order (7/29)
President Obama to sign Tribal Law and Order Act at White House (7/28)
GOP claims Tribal Law and Order Act process showed 'disrespect' (7/28)
Tribal Law and Order Act seeks to boost police recruitment efforts (7/27)
House Republicans cast 92 'no' votes on Tribal Law and Order Act (7/26)
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act holds promise for reservations (7/26)
Congress backs first significant Indian Country crime bill in years (7/22)
Former US Attorneys support passage of Tribal Law and Order Act (7/21)
Tribal Law and Order Act boosts tribal court sentencing authority (7/14)
Editorial: Bill brings boost to Indian Country law enforcement (7/6)
Supporters expect House passage of Tribal Law and Order Act (6/25)
Senate passes Tribal Law and Order Act as part of another bill (6/24)
Patrice Kunesh: Action needed on Tribal Law and Order Act (5/10)
House committee holds hearing on Law and Order (12/10)
Dorgan praises Obama support on Law and Order (11/3)
Tribal Law and Order Act ready for Senate floor (9/11)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee approves bills (9/11)
Editorial: Obama should back Tribal Law and Order (9/4)
State opposes Alaska Native provisions in bill (8/7)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order (6/25)
Witness list for hearing on Law and Order Act (6/24)
In The Hoop: Uhh, good luck with that testimony... (6/24)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order (6/22)
Indian Affairs hearing on Law and Order Act (6/18)
Tribal law and order bill introduced in Senate (4/6)