HOULTON, Maine — Domestic and sexual violence affects people from all walks of life, including tribal citizens with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
Abuse can be emotional or financial, leaving the person feeling trapped, with nowhere to go. Four out of five Native American women experience violence in their lives, according to a report by the National Congress of American Indians.
Thankfully, there are services to help those in need.
The Maliseet Advocacy Center is available to anyone affected by domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, stalking and sex trafficking. The program offers support, assistance and information about options available to both native and non-native individuals.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Maliseet Advocacy Center held the tribe’s 27th annual candlelight vigil on Oct. 24 to offer support and raise awareness for the cause. About 50 people turned out for this year’s vigil, which featured ceremonial tribal drumming by the Four Winds drum group; lighting of candles in memory or honor of victims; and a community meal.
Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis welcomed those in attendance and urged a call to unity for supporting those impacted by domestic violence.
“Tonight’s ceremony is something special that we all hold dear (to our hearts),” Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis said. “It is important that communities are united in embracing our culture and this (ceremony) is a way we can all help heal together. It is a way to celebrate and support our survivors, but more importantly it is a way to honor those that we have lost to domestic violence.”
Sabattis said that the rate of domestic violence, for both women and men, was significantly higher for native Americans, compared to the general population. More than 83 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Justice.
“Ninety-six percent of our Indigenous female survivors experienced sexual violence at the hands of a non-native man,” she added. “Plus, Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average.”
Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca once again served as the guest speaker for Thursday’s event.
“The Houlton Police Department takes domestic violence and sexual assault crimes seriously with our response,” DeLuca said. “However, a reactive response is not enough. As I like to say, reactive is late and proactive is early and domestic violence is no exception.”
He said crimes typically happen in a person’s home with the victim feeling trapped and helpless, with little to no support.
Cathy St. John, program director for the Maliseet Advocacy Center, conducted a shawl ceremony as a reminder to why they are gathering. The shawls serve as a reminder of providing safety for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking and murdered or missing Indigenous relatives.
The purple shawl represents the victims and survivors of domestic violence; the red shawl represents missing and murdered Indigenous relatives; the teal shawl represents the victims and survivors of sexual assault; the rainbow shawl represents the LBGTQ and two-spirit relatives who often experience violence and stigma; the white shawl represents the child survivors and victims; and finally the orange shawl honors residential school survivors and those who did not make it home via the foster care program.
The Maliseet program offers unconditional/confidential support; crisis intervention; safety planning; emergency shelter and related assistance; a support group; hospital accompaniment; court advocacy; assistance in filing for orders of protection from abuse; assistance in filing for divorce and parental rights/custody; legal assistance; information and referrals; and education and training.
The mission of the Maliseet Advocacy Center is to effect change within the tribal community, where equality, respect and nonviolence become cornerstones of all relationships.
The center has an anonymous 24-hour crisis line at 207-532-6401 to offer support to any tribal member experiencing abuse.
