Mending the Sacred Hoop

History and Purpose of the Project

In 1990, a small group of Indian people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota established the foundation for Mending the Sacred Hoop (MSH). Our work began with domestic violence systems advocacy and intervention in Northern Minnesota and expanded to include tribes across the country.

In 1995, we received a federal STOP Violence Against Indian Women grant to further our training and technical assistance. Through this grant, experienced Native trainers were acknowledged and utilized to not only develop trainings but also serve as powerful resources for those in other communities who were addressing this issue.

Our goal is one of self-determination, and our program commits to providing time, resources, and faculty to tribes addressing the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, issues that impact the health of current and future Native women and men from all Nations. Trainings, workshops, and programs not only address the all-too-common practice of violence against Native women, but also provide an alternative to existing agencies that do not acknowledge the unique status of indigenous people in America.

In Duluth, advocacy is provided to Native American women all women who are victims of domestic violence. Advocacy provides victims of domestic violence with someone outside of their circle of friends and family who can provide accurate education about domestic violence. Advocacy enhances the individual woman's safety needs if she chooses to stay in the relationship, promotes her understanding of an Order for Protection and the court process, and provides resources such as housing, women's shelter or emergency funding. MSH advocacy includes an education group that provides information and resources to women who are in abusive relationships. Education groups for women provide an opportunity for battered women to meet in a supportive capacity on a bi-monthly basis. Women discuss a variety of issues, such as safety plans, child custody and visitation issues, power and control tactics, and accountability. When a battered woman is involved in the criminal justice system, it can be an intimidating experience when she attempts to understand and access information. Systems advocacy, resources, and education on the court system are also provided to victims of domestic violence. Systems advocacy consists of contacting probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement on behalf of the women we work with to promote victim safety and perpetrator accountability. Systems advocacy is also provided for women involved with social services and family court when they are at risk of losing their children due to the destructive dynamics of domestic violence.

Mending the Sacred Hoop is currently developing the Crossroads group for court ordered women who have been charged with 5th degree domestic assault. Most of the women are victims of domestic violence and also attend the women's education group. The Crossroads program examines the context of women's use of violence. Women are provided an orientation to evaluate whether the Crossroads program is appropriate or if an educational group may be better suited to their situation. This group examines violence and it's effect on personal, institutional, societal, and family relationships. In addition to these activities, Mending the Sacred Hoop participates in some greater local collaborations to

• Coordinate monthly non-violence interagency meetings with Carlton County and Fond du Lac Reservation to provide education and information, review current policies and procedures, and improve the response to victims of domestic violence and accountability of offenders.
• Work with a wide range of local agencies in Carlton County and St. Louis County monitoring the criminal justice response to battered Native women and all women. Follow up calls are made to police, county sheriff departments and probation departments when victim safety or offender accountability is being compromised.

MSH provides training, mentoring and support to other Native advocates in an effort to develop a tribally specific network of resources and allies. It is through these relationships, on-going training, and material development that we exercise our belief that we all share the responsibility of bringing together all of our relations in order to heal our communities within a Native cultural framework.