I would like to create a dialouge about issues in the indigenous community among young academics who will eventually have the power to influence issues regarding marginalized groups. As they say, knowledge is power and I hope that by discussing the dangers and inequities indigenous women face on campus and otherwise that we can bring these issues to light in communities that may have no connection to indigenous people and may not be informed about these issues. Natives make up 2% of America's population and are often overlooked when discussing marginalized groups in a variety of forums, lets change that and bring awareness ! 

So what exactly is the issue at hand ?

According to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, 4 out of 5 Native women are effected by violence today, and homicide is the 3rd cause of death in Native women between ages 10-24. Often times, these women never recieve the justice they deserve due to jurisdictional and communication issues between tribal land and local, state and federal jurisdictions and their law enforcement entities. This is a structural as well as a racial issue that allows violence against Native women to continue at the alarming rates that it does, and I firmly believe that the first step to fixing such vast structural issues is by raising awareness.