Hope Conference addresses sexual abuse
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News staff writer BILLINGS — The Hope conference is making an attempt to address the most disturbing epidemic in all of Indian country, child sexual abuse. For generations the plague of sexual abuse that currently thrives on reservations has been hidden from the larger population because of an unspoken agreement amongst Native communities to keep it a secret. The Hope Conference which takes place April 4-5 in Billings, Mt is breaking that silence and will examine ways to keep this horrible tragedy from continuing to happen. “No more shame. No more secrets. No more sweeping this issue under the rug. We must address the truth about this trauma and how it is a root cause of so many of the social issues that face our people today” said Elrae Potts (Dakota) an organizer of the event. “We must do this in the name of our children who are the hope for the future. We must do this for our ancestors who suffered and died without justice or healing from the pain of these abuses. We hope for mass healing within our tribal nations in a unified movement,” she added. The conference’s primary focus is to address the issue of child sexual trauma within Native communities. During the two day event panelists and participants will examine the impact that historical accounts of sexual abuse have had on Native communities. The historical examination will begin with abuses within religious institutions, boarding schools and other documented accounts of institutionalized sexual assaults of Native children. “What is so important about the HOPE Conference is that it is the only Native American grassroots volunteer organization around that is openly addressing the issues of child sexual abuse in Indian Country” said Ken Bear Chief an Nez Perce sexual abuse advocate. “And, it goes beyond that by offering healing opportunities for the survivors of historical trauma and abuse suffered during the Indian mission boarding school era and for the victims of child abuse from our Indian communities,” he added. Unique from other sexual abuse discussions, the Hope conference will look for ways that are culturally relevant and applicable within today’s society in finding innovative ways to stop child sexual abuse. “At one time a long time ago within our Indigenous communities we were ceremonial, traditional, fluent in our Indigenous languages, lead sober lifestyles, strived to live balanced lives, learned from nature, interconnected, and were experts at raising our children; our children were sacred,” said Kathy Little Leaf. (Pikkani) “But today is a new day we are at a place now where we understand the pain and are ready to do the work of sharing the dialogue and knowing that the truth shall set us free and coming together in unity and hope,” she said. Recently several pieces of legislation have been passed that have had a direct impact on the ability of tribes to prosecute cases in tribal courts. A significant portion of the conference will be spent looking for new innovative legislative and judicial solutions to stop sexual assaults across Indian country. “The assurance that the perpetrator will not have a free ticket to hurt others, and if others are hurt that they be believed, and given the opportunity to heal. We need to be the public outcry on behalf of every one of our men, women and children who have been sexually violated. We need it to stop, not after further laws are made, not after someone swears to tell the truth, not after the exam. It needs to not happen one more time. It needs to stop at this moment,” said Linda Thompson an event organizer and member of the Bois Forte & Leech Lake Ojibwe nations. The event will coincide with the 45thAnnual MSU-Billings powwow the conference will take place at the Billings Hotel & Convention Center in Billings, MT. “The 3rd HOPE Conference endeavors to eliminate child sexual trauma in Indian Country by calling upon community leaders, social justice & victim advocates, legal experts, counselors, survivors and community members to join us to address this issue. Together we can find solutions that guarantee the full protection of children from sexual abuse,” Hope Conference organizers stated in a press release. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
Join the Conversation