Hirono was among the key members of Congress who joined the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators in observing a moment of silence for missing and murdered Indigenous women at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday morning. And she wasn't the only one who wanted to know why an update to the VAWA, one that expands protections for Native women, has stalled in Washington, D.C. Minnesota State Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (D), a descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, asked Hoelscher -- whom Fish described as his "boss" -- the very same question about VAWA following the conclusion of the event. She didn't receive a clear answer about the fate of legislation that recognizes tribal authority over non-Indians who commit sexual assaults against Native women, engage in trafficking and attack Native children and law enforcement. "Without VAWA, it's just free range on reservations and there's no accountability," Kunesh-Podein told Indianz.Com of the need to reauthorize the law. "The perpetrators know that, and will focus on that and they will potentially go after our Native and Indigenous women." "I reiterated that a number of times to him," Kunesh-Podein said of her conversation with Hoelscher on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.At the US Capitol on Tuesday, members of Congress and federal officials joined the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators in observing a moment of silence for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Honor song by Lance Fisher, Northern Cheyenne. #MMIW @ANA_ACFgov pic.twitter.com/aF7uqH78Hl
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 24, 2019
During their remarks, Fish and Hoelscher portrayed themselves as strongly aware of the #MMIW movement and of the need to address a wide range of public safety concerns in Indian Country. "You have the White House here," said Fish, who is also of Muscogee (Creek) Nation ancestry. Fish then issued what he said was a "call to action" in connection with the #MMIW crisis. "This requires the commitment of every single one of us," he said in reference to the Native lawmakers, members of Congress, tribal leaders and others who gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Hoelscher added that he went to Alaska to attend one of the roundtables that has focused on #MMIW and public safety in Native communities. "It was really an important learning experience," he told the crowd. "I heard really personal stories." Hoelscher also said that "President Trump is the first president to issue a proclamation recognizing missing and murdered Indigenous women," in reference to a May 3 declaration that was issued by the White House close to midnight on a Friday, drawing little attention as a result.A powerful moment on the Capitol Steps today as I joined in a moment of silence for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) September 24, 2019
Thank you so much to all who organized this moving event. #MMIW pic.twitter.com/qUV6ntMzi7
The 2013 version of VAWA included landmark provisions that recognize the inherent sovereignty of tribes to arrest, prosecute and sentence non-Indians who abuse their partners. The law was written to address high rates of victimization of Native women, accounting for statistics which show that most offenders are of another race. "We know that VAWA helps keep Native women safe," Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna who is one of the first two Native women in Congress, said at the rally on September 11. But the law does not protect Native women from trafficking or sexual assaults, for example, and it doesn't cover crimes against children and tribal law enforcement. It does not address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women or Native women living in urban areas either. H.R.1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, closes some of the gaps in protection by expanding tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians. The bill, which passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on April 4, also takes first steps in responding to the #MMIW crisis and to victimization of urban Indians. "Have the laws changed?" asked Darla Black, the vice president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, after describing herself as a "victor" over domestic violence at the event earlier this month. "Nothing today has changed."“SOVEREIGNTY AND NATIVE WOMENS SAFETY”: “We know that VAWA keeps Native women safe,” says Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) at rally for Violence Against Women Act at US Capitol. @RepDebHaaland @NCAI1944 @niwrc #VAWA #MMIW pic.twitter.com/64DSCdWkxc
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 11, 2019
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