Tulalip Tribes vice chair shares personal story for VAWA debate

Wednesday, May 23, 2012  

Deborah Parker, the vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, became a powerful voice for the Violence Against Women Act during a visit to the nation's capitol last month.

Parker was in Washington, D.C., to discuss environmental issues. But she turned her focus to domestic violence in Indian Country after learning that tribal provisions in S.1925, a bill to reauthorize VAWA, were generating controversy in the Senate.

"We had sent numerous emails and letters showing how important the Violence Against Women Act is with the tribal provision. Without it we don't have anything," Parker told The Everett Herald.

After Parker's emotional speech at a press conference, the Senate voted 68-31 to pass S.1925 with provisions that restore tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence crimes on reservations. But H.R.4970, the version passed by the House, doesn't include the same protections.

Get the Story:
Tulalip leader speaks in D.C. for protection for women (The Everett Herald 5/23)

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