Many women and men are already have their outfit planned for April 27th. On the last Wednesday of April, people from all over the world will wear denim jeans or tops to remind their community about a woman’s right to wear what she wants, and to protest the abhorrent argument that a court accepted to let a rapist free,“because the victim wore very, very tight jeans”.
Rape and sexual assault is too commonly excused in our society. We participate in victim-blaming and continue a pattern of injustice for the women in our lives. The statistics are staggering, over half of women in Alaska have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both during their lifetime. Those statistics disproportionately affect Alaska Native women and have increased 14.7% for 2020 compared to previous years. This is unacceptable.
This violence is never the victim’s fault. As a community, we must hold those who cause harm accountable for their actions. Kawerak Inc acknowledges that sexual assault is part of the continuum of violence against Indigenous people and is interconnected with the effects of colonization. We affirm that sexual assault has no place in our culture and traditions.
Let’s start by working together as a community to teach our children about the importance of consent. When you force a child to kiss a relative, or allow a child to touch another youth that is uncomfortable because you think it’s funny and harmless, these actions reinforce that consent is unnecessary for justifiable reasons.
We can also be ‘green dots’ in our community by intervening, reporting, or getting help when you see aggressive, inappropriate or questionable behavior. For example, if you see someone having difficulty walking and is being escorted, check in with them to see if they are alright, or make a call to the police to have them check on the individual. Your action can prevent a traumatic event.
Lastly, pay attention to the warning signs of someone needing help. They may stop doing their normal or favorite activities, start losing trust, become depressed or fatigued, lose interest in conversation, have difficulty focusing, or have bruising, bleeding or difficulty walking. Ask them about it and encourage them to talk and get help. Remind them that what happens to them is NOT their fault and you are there to support them. Often times the offender threatens the victim to ensure they stay quiet. Involve law enforcement. Call the Troopers 443-2835 or Nome Police Department 443-5262 if someone discloses abuse.
If you are or know someone who has or might be experiencing sexual violence and need someone to talk to, you can call or text the StrongHearts Native Helpline at 1-844-7NATIVE or chat at strongheartshelpline.org for support. Locally, for children who experienced sexual assault call Kawerak Child Advocacy Center, 443-4488 and for adults call Bering Sea Women’s Group, 443-5444.
Join Kawerak and others around the world in pushing back against the misconceptions that keep women at risk for sexual assault by wearing denim on April 27th!
Written By Danielle Slingsby and Faith Itta, Kawerak Outreach Department
