President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act this week. Finally, something bipartisan passed! American women are better protected from coast to coast -- but all the way up north? Left out in the cold. First, you should know a few facts. Native American and Alaska Native women are 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other American women. The vastness of Alaska works against victims here. We have about 140 villages with no state law enforcement. Gov. Sean Parnell believes he can get some help to them in the next 10 years. In the meantime, they are, depending on weather, days from having a state trooper available to protect them and enforce the law. Fifty villages have tribal or village police. The remaining 90? Zero. No law enforcement.Get the Story:
Shannyn Moore: Alaska politicians stand in the way of protections (The Anchorage Daily News 3/9)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories:Rep. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, explains no vote on VAWA (3/11)
Tribes in Oklahoma prepare for jurisdiction provision in VAWA (3/11)
Obama cites 'inherent' right of tribes at VAWA signing ceremony (3/8)
Democracy Now: Juana Majel-Dixon from NCAI discusses VAWA (3/8)
White House Blog: Empowering tribes to protect Native women (3/8)
Obama to sign Violence Against Women Act in ceremony at DOI (3/7)
President of Quinault Nation to attend VAWA signing ceremony (3/5)
Task force in DC for research on violence against Native women (3/4)
Renee Roman Nose: A victory for Native women in VAWA update (3/4)
Levi Rickert: Calling out 3 Republicans for voting against VAWA (3/4)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp: VAWA update protects Native women too (3/4)
Opinion: Rep. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, silent on VAWA vote (3/4)
Opinion: How non-Indians can challenge tribal court jurisdiction (3/4)
Kevin Abourezk: Native women in Nebraska celebrate VAWA bill (3/1)
Tribes praise passage of VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provision (3/1)
President Obama to sign VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provision (3/1)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee citizen, voted against VAWA (3/1)
Turtle Talk: Tribes must provide counsel to indigent defendants (3/1)
Opinion: Republican lawmakers take side of non-Indian abusers (3/1)
Tribal provisions in Violence Against Women Act endure battle (2/28)
House set to vote on VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provisions (2/27)
Louise Erdrich: Native women left at mercy of their predators (2/27)
Rep. Cole plans to introduce tribal amendment to VAWA bill (2/26)
MPR: Debating tribal jurisdiction provisions in VAWA update (2/26)
Opinion: Republicans sacrifice protections for Indian women (2/26)
Opinion: Flawed tribal jurisdiction provisions in House VAWA (2/26)
House to consider VAWA with different jurisdiction provisions (2/25)
NCAI denounces Sen. Grassley for 'fear mongering' on tribes (2/25)
Editorial: Congress must renew Violence Against Women Act (2/25)
Top GOP lawmaker doesn't think non-Indians will get fair trial (2/22)
GOP lawmakers introduce Violence Against Indian Women Act (2/21)
Tribal jurisdiction provisions of VAWA face questions in House (2/20)
Editorial: Close tribal jurisdiction loophole with VAWA update (2/19)
Rep. Tom Cole defends tribal jurisdiction provisions in VAWA (2/18)
Editorial: Congress must renew Violence Against Women Act (2/18)
NCAI President Keel calls on Congress to protect Indian women (2/15)
PRI: Professor Sarah Deer discusses tribal jurisdiction in VAWA (2/15)
Republican blames VAWA vote on tribal jurisdiction provisions (2/14)
Opinion: Tribal jurisdiction provision violates U.S. Constitution (2/14)
Tribes hail passage of VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provision (2/13)
Senate keeps tribal jurisdiction provisions in VAWA measure (2/12)
Senate set for vote on VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provisions (2/11)
Editorial: Reauthorize VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provisions (2/11)
Column: Failing to respond to violence against Native women (2/11)
Senate rejects alternative to VAWA without tribal jurisdiction (2/8)
Senate set to vote on VAWA with tribal jurisdiction provision (2/7)
White House backs tribal jurisdiction provisions in VAWA bill (2/5)
Frontline: Closing a loophole in VAWA to help Native women (2/5)
Ryan Dreveskracht: Tribal provisions of VAWA up for debate (2/5)
Opinion: The Violence Against Women Act is on life support (01/28)
Matt Remle: Violence against women, violence against earth (1/25)
Haley Elkins: Media goes silent on the failure to pass VAWA (1/24)
NCAI calls on Congress to pass Violence Against Women Act (01/24)