Honoring wounds to the human spirit
Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition works to support survivors and advocate for the end of sexual assault of Native women and children.
By Ella Roberts and Taylor Fruetel
Native women walk with stern faces and straight backs. Red fabric lies over their shoulders to symbolize Natives surviving violence. Purple and teal tassels honor victims of domestic and sexual abuse. The fringe symbolizes tears shed by Indigenous women over generations. The shawl also embodies notions of strength, beauty and solidarity.
The Solidarity Shawl Project is just one piece of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition in St. Paul. MIWSAC supports survivors and allies of sexual violence among Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations and other Native communities throughout the country by hosting events, conferences and teachings where survivors can share their stories. MIWSAC also produces powwows to show support for those suffering from sexual or domestic abuse.
“What we heard was an overwhelming need to reconnect to and strengthen their cultural knowledge and practices.” — Nicole Matthews, executive director of Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition
Nicole Matthews, executive director of MIWSAC and a descendent of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, was one of five interviewers for research on prostitution and trafficking of Native women in Minnesota called Garden of Truth, published in 2011.
“We heard heartbreaking stories from our sisters,” Matthews said.
Stories of historical trauma, child sexual abuse, violence, rape, poverty and homelessness. After several difficult interviews, Matthews and another interviewer walked down to their river and cried, she said.
“What we heard was an overwhelming need to reconnect to and strengthen their cultural knowledge and practices,” Matthews said.
The nonprofit’s Communications Specialist, Becki Jordan, a member of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in northeastern South Dakota, felt called to MIWSAC because of the help it provides to Native women in need of sexual assault resources and funding.
“The cultural piece impacted me,” Jordan said. “I wanted to see what I could do for the betterment of the Native Community.”
According to the Garden of Truth, Native women are at exceptionally high risk for poverty, homelessness, and sexual violence which are elements in the trafficking of women. The needs of Native women are generally not being met, and prostituted women are at extremely high risk for violence and emotional trauma. Because of this, the study aimed to assess the life circumstances of Native women in prostitution in Minnesota, a group of women not previously studied in research like this one.
“In order for a woman to have the real choice to exit prostitution, a range of services must be offered yet there are currently few or no available services specially designed for Native women in prostitution,” the study reads.
As a Native woman interviewed for this research study said, “We need people with hearts.” Arresting sex buyers, not their victims, is a more appropriate policy.
“Success is seeing how survivors have moved through the field. Telling their stories and helping provide support and connections with other survivors.– Becki Jordan, Communications Specialist
That is where MIWSAC steps in. The organization works with partners to fund other resources that work directly with survivors. MIWSAC also uses its office to speak out, seek justice and honor the lives of those affected.
“Success is seeing how survivors have moved through the field,” Jordan said, “telling their stories and helping provide support and connections with other survivors.”
The nonprofit has goals of recreating a study similar to Garden of Truth, which was conducted by MIWSAC Executive Director Nicole Matthews and is one of its kind. The study advocated for more funding to Native women’s programs to help reduce the number being sex trafficked and forced into prostitution. According to Jordan MIWSAC seeks funding to conduct research to get current statistics on Native women being sex trafficked and partnerships within the community that are based on Native teachings and culture to further the outreach of MIWSAC.
“We are looking to center the voices of survivors,” Jordan said.
If you are seeking immediate assistance:
StrongHearts Native Helpline:
- 1–844–7 NATIVE
- 1–844–762–8483
- Website
Polaris Project: National Human Trafficking Hotline
- 1–888–373–7888 or text “BeFree” to 233733
- Website
RAINN: Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network:
- 1800–656–4673 (HOPE)
- Website
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
- 1–800–799–7233 (SAFE)
- Website
