2003 Spotlight: Indian Country Project
Violence against women and girls in Indian Country is at epidemic proportions. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the rate of rape and sexual assault of Native American women is 3.5 times higher than for any other race in the United States. The rate continues to rise while Indian women and girls remain invisible as an at risk population.
The V-Day Indian Country Project will raise awareness of the issues facing Native American and Native Alaskan women in the United States and First Nations women in Canada. Led by Native American activist Suzanne BlueStar Boy, the project will also raise funds to provide resources for these woman.
As Director of the V-Day Indian Country Project, Suzanne will travel across Indian Country to collaborate with Native American and First Nations women working to end violence and to educate them about V-Day as a means to raise funds and consciousness within their communities. The project will also build coalitions to strengthen tribal commitments to end violence.
In 2002, the world witnessed the violent oppression in which Afghan Women lived. V-Day sponsored the Spotlight on Afghan Women to raise funds for Afghan Women working for change within their country. At the same time, we declared, Afghanistan is Everywhere. Women and girls throughout the world are afflicted by violence, and must stand together to change the world.
In 2003, V-Day is sponsoring Afghanistan Is Everywhere: A Spotlight On Native American and First Nations Women. This program will bring the issues facing native women to local V-Day events around the world, asking all people to stand with Native American women in their struggle to be free of violence. The program will also encourage event organizers to contribute 10% of their benefit proceeds to support work ending violence in Native American, Native Alaskan, and First Nations communities.
Indian Country Project Archives:
bring a v-day event to indian country
indian country project announcement
