LISTENING

SAFETY & WELL-BEING
Advocates spoke passionately about the lack of safety and well-being for American
Indian women and girls, citing higher rates of suicide and a risk of physical assault
that is 2.5 times higher than the national average. One advocate who attributed the lack of
safety and well-being to systemic oppression commented, “The systems are failing young
people; their safety isn’t prioritized. Systems aren’t taking into account trauma, stressors,
homelessness, and lack of financial stability — kids are just seen as troublemakers.”
“
Native
women are more likely to experience
violence. We are taught never to walk into a
bathroom alone because that’s how women
disappear.”
Young women in this Listening Session
discussed the high rate of early death
among American Indians. One participant
stated, “In other places, most people have
parents and grandparents that are alive.
I learned in fifth grade that it wasn’t
normal for our parents and grandparents
to die so young.”
NEGATIVE SOCIAL NARRATIVES
Persistent racism and difficulty in moving beyond the stereotyping of American Indians
were central themes in this Listening Session. The young women and advocates
spoke of several drivers of negative social narratives, including:
• Lack of accurate representation of Native American culture, government,
and history in mainstream education.
• Lack of cultural training for teachers.
• Media perpetuation of stereotypes.
• Ongoing use of American Indians as sports team mascots.
Several advocates talked about racism, stereotyping and the lack of understanding
of colonization as ongoing, key factors preventing native people from achieving
self-determination, safety, and economic well-being.
Another spoke of the absence of positive social narrative. She stated, “When we think
about data it’s often deficit-based. Take it a step further — instead of asking what’s
wrong, ask what’s right? There are really great things going on in our communities and
there isn’t visibility for what is going right.”
WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA
LISTENING TO YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR & ADVOCATES | 12