"Beverly Jacobs arrived at the United Nations to see standards put in place to protect the human rights of the world's indigenous peoples.
I met Jacobs Sept. 13 in the United Nations General Assembly hall just before 144 nations voted to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Four countries voted no. Eleven abstained.
Jacobs, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, was one of the only people I met from an English-speaking country who arrived in New York specifically to advocate for the rights of indigenous women.
“A lot of our work is focused on the human rights violations that are happening to aboriginal women in Canada,” she said. “Right now we're dealing with major crises of violence.”
The United States and Canada were among two of the four countries that voted against the declaration. Meanwhile, both nations share a responsibility in the horrendous treatment of indigenous women.
This past Wednesday, police in Ontario released a composite sketch of a suspect in the murder of Kelly Morrisseau, a 27-year-old aboriginal woman found naked and stabbed in a parking lot last December. Kelly died later in a hospital. She was seven months pregnant.
Family members hope witnesses will step forward. A vigil will be held in memory of Morrisseau on Oct. 4. She will be a reminder that aboriginal women in Canada are five times more likely to die a violent death than non-aboriginal women. They are more likely to live in poverty and more likely to be homeless. These women are being wiped out of existence. Some 500 indigenous women were missing or murdered in Canada in 2003.
In the United States, one in three Native women will be raped in their lifetime. And violence against them is nearly three times higher than any other group in the United States, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report."
Get the Story:Jodi Rave: Time to put indigenous declaration to good use (The Missoulian 9/23) Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: UN votes for indigenous rights (9/14)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous rights declaration up for vote (9/13)
Jodi Rave: Women singers shine at powwow (9/10)
Jodi Rave: Hoop spreads healing across country (9/4)
Jodi Rave: Saving Private Ryan LeCompte, Lakota (8/27)
Jodi Rave: Indian Health Service inadequate (8/20)
Jodi Rave: Harvest Moon Ball promotes Native art (8/17)
Jodi Rave: Pueblo woman takes over Indian law center (8/15)
Jodi Rave: Project integrates science and culture (8/14)
Jodi Rave: Families reconnect during powwow season (8/13)
Jodi Rave: Native American Bank makes difference (8/9)
Jodi Rave: WOMAN challenge proves enlightening (8/6)
Jodi Rave: Youth show talent at Native Elite Sports camp (8/1)
Jodi Rave: Powwows pay tribute to veterans (7/30)
Jodi Rave: Sacred Hoop Journey inspires hope (7/26)
Jodi Rave: Native center at UM raises enough money (7/19)
Jodi Rave wins awards for columns and reporting (7/9)
Jodi Rave: Montana tribes at bottom of gaming scale (7/2)
Jodi Rave: Native women continue the challenge (06/18)
Jodi Rave: Graduates eager to make a difference (6/11)
Jodi Rave: Nez Perce homeland remains sacred (6/4)
Jodi Rave: Covering tribal disenrollments (5/30)
Jodi Rave: Paying respects to the departed (5/28)
Jodi Rave: Women of color need to work together (5/24)
Jodi Rave: Disenrollment and the national media (5/21)
Jodi Rave: Native women take up walking challenge (5/16)
Jodi Rave: Navajo family takes the WOMAN Challenge (5/14)
Jodi Rave: Basketball standout graduates from UM (5/14)
Jodi Rave: Native language programs struggle (5/8)
Jodi Rave: NARF delivers message with hip-hop (5/7)
Jodi Rave: Leadership in a multicultural age (4/30)
Jodi Rave: More Natives needed in journalism (4/20)
Jodi Rave: Probate reform changes 'devastating' (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Native language preservation efforts (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls for accountability (4/12)
Jodi Rave: Doctrine of Discovery and Indians (4/11)
Jodi Rave: Tribal colleges press for federal funds (4/6)
Jodi Rave: George Longfish never short on imagery (4/4)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls trust offer 'insulting' (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Lawmaker a symbol of Old West ignorance (3/26)
Jodi Rave: Res2007 highlights tribal economies (3/19)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave wins national fellowship award (03/06)
Jodi Rave: Natives find 'Voices' at Autry Museum (3/2)
Jodi Rave: Environmental racism expert in Montana (3/1)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree artist honors heritage (2/28)
Jodi Rave: Nellie Two Bulls leaves strong legacy (2/22)
Jodi Rave: Count me among America's lawn freaks (2/20)
Jodi Rave: Tribes receive heating assistance (2/19)
Jodi Rave: Tex Hall leaves tribe with $100M-plus debt (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Meet your next Native American Idols (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Without funds, NAIHC fires half of staff (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Montana panel cuts Indian education budget (2/7)
Jodi Rave: Sharing the dance and harvest in Alaska (2/5)
Jodi Rave: Montana family preserves beading (1/30)
Jodi Rave: Navajo Nation to market scenic routes (1/22)
Jodi Rave: Native youth get turned onto reading (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Think tank aims to help Native students (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Winona LaDuke speaks in Montana (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Myers drops bid for 9th Circuit seat (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Interior mum on class action tribal suit (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Rep. Rehberg backs Indian committee (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Cobell sees hope for case in new year (1/2)
