The Advisory Committee of the Attorney General's Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence held its first pubic hearing in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Monday.

Witnesses shared personal stories of child abuse and violence in Indian Country. They said tribes and federal agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service need more funding to address youth issues.

“It needs to be grassroots and it needs to be run by natives,” said Barbara Bettelyoun, a psychologist from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Al Jazeera reported. “Healing needs to include teaching and practices of our native ways.”

Three additional hearings will be held in Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Anchorage, Alaska, next year. The advisory committee will deliver a report to Attorney General Eric Holder by the end of October 2014.

Get the Story:
Panel hears testimony about native children exposed to violence (The Grand Forks Herald 12/10)
Federal committee holds first hearing on tribal youth exposure to violence (The Bismarck Tribune 12/10)
Stark look at abuse and violence aimed at Native American children (Al Jazeera 12/9)

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Task force on Native children and violence set for first meeting (12/05)
DOJ task force to make recommendations on Native child safety (11/15)
DOJ schedules hearings on violence against Native children (11/14)