"Last week Anita Tsosie became our region's latest victim.
A well-known Navajo weaver, Tsosie, was shot dead at her Cortez, Colo. home.
The case is still under investigation and while no one has since been charged with the crime, Colorado law enforcement officials are still looking for Herman Tsosie.
Police have named Anita's estranged husband as a suspect in the alleged murder.
If this turns out to be a domestic violence case, it will become one in an ever-growing number of such cases in the area.
According to the American Indian Health Council, American Indian women experience the highest rate of violence of any group in the United States, with domestic violence leading to homicide as the third leading cause of death for Native women. Of American Indian women murdered, more than 75 percent were killed by a family member or someone they knew. Though domestic violence is rampant on the reservation, there is no Navajo Nation law specifically addressing domestic violence within the Navajo Nation Code.
Numerous agencies have reported that the number of Native American domestic violence cases are twice the national average."
Get the Story:Domestic violence claims another Four Corner's life (The Farmington Daily Times 4/16) Relevant Links:
Anita Tsosie - http://www.anitatsosie.com
Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts - http://www.swaia.org Related Stories:
Navajo weaver killed a day before divorce was final (4/12)
Husband suspected in death of Navajo weaver (4/11)
Man acquitted for sexual assault of Native teen (03/27)
Tearful Native teen recalls sexual assault at trial (3/21)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (3/12)
'Missing from the Circle' website launches (03/09)
Project seeks to create Indian Country crime database (3/2)
US Attorney: Critic hides contempt for tribes (01/03)
Opinion: Misleading stories on reservation homicide (1/2)
US Attorney: Tribes need more law enforcement (12/04)
Ute Reservation the 'murder capital of Colorado' (11/27)
Report outlines high murder rate of Native women (09/21)
Data shows high rates of Native violence in Farmington (08/31)
Pine Ridge Reservation shelter helps hundreds (08/10)
Walk raises awareness of domestic violence (05/12)
Shakopee Tribe awards anti-domestic violence grant (05/03)
Tribes unite for domestic violence awareness (04/25)
Men sentenced to life in prison for kidnap, rape (01/27)
Domestic violence an epidemic in Indian Country (11/8)
Editorial: Breaking the circle of domestic violence (10/26)
Figures show drop in Indian Country jail population (10/25)
Michigan tribe marches against domestic violence (10/21)
Navajo man leads walk against domestic violence (10/12)
Senate approves violence act with tribal provisions (10/5)
DOJ awards grants for Indian women safety sites (09/22)
Editorial: Protect Native women from domestic violence (09/12)
Domestic violence a problem on Montana reservations (9/9)
Violence Against Women Act set to expire this month (9/6)
Column: Genocide of Indian women continues today (08/15)
Violence Against Women Act includes tribal provisions (06/14)
Study finds high rates of trauma among two tribes (06/01)
Harjo: Native women aren't safe in Indian Country (04/29)
Two charged with rapes on Montana reservation (02/25)
Congress puts focus on Indian Country crime (11/22)
Violent crime on the rise on Navajo Nation (11/02)
Tribal rights recognized in domestic violence bill (10/26)
Alaska wants to reduce tribal powers in child welfare (09/09)
Two grants to combat domestic violence on reservation (09/01)
Justice bill shifts priorities in Indian Country (8/4)
Criminals on Navajo Nation sometimes set free (07/30)
Tribal authority over all Indians still unsettled question (06/23)
Native women in Oklahoma at high risk for violence (05/26)
Federal prosecutor seeks to change 'national shame' (04/19)
IHS compiles domestic violence research (10/29)
Native youth victimization outpaces nation (07/17)
Natives top violent crime list again (4/8)
One in 10 hate crimes target American Indians (10/1)
DOJ: American Indians highest injured (6/25)
DOJ: Violent crime plagues Indian Country (3/19)
