National Indigenous Women's Resource Center

The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) is a nonprofit organization that provides health resources to Native American women and also advocates for women's health, housing, and domestic violence support.[1][2][3] The organization was founded and is led by Native American women.[4]

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
27-4971660
HeadquartersLame Deer, Montana
Executive Director
Lucy Rain Simpson
Board Chair
Carmen O’Leary
Revenue (2019)
$3.2 m USD
Staff (2023)
20 FTEs
Websiteniwrc.org

Background

Founded in 2011, NIWRC is dedicated to ending gender-based violence directed at Native American women through grassroots advocacy.[5] Their mission is to "provide national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women by supporting culturally grounded, grassroots advocacy."[4][6][7] The organization received 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2011.[8]

NIWRC is a member of the Domestic Violence Resource Network and has received funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.[9] The organization is headquartered in Lame Deer, Montana.[9]

Activities

NIWRC leads awareness month/day campaigns, policy advocacy, resource outreach events, and on-site technical assistance events serving tribal communities. They also host online webinars and have supported women's resource advocates and professionals across over 160 tribal areas and communities. NIWRC has also published pamphlets and booklets focused on the safety of Native American women, including Restoration Magazine and the Toolkit for Understanding and Responding to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women for Families and Communities.[4]

NIWRC leads a VAWA Sovereignty Initiative which describes its work as "defending the constitutionality and functionality of all tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act, as well as the inherent authority of Indian Nations to protect Native women." The organization also operates the STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center which supports victims of gender-based violence.[10][11]

NIWRC also sponsors an annual "Women Are Sacred" conference which brings together leaders, advocates, and other experts in the movement to end violence against Indigenous women.[12]

In 2018, NIWRC filed an Amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Sharp v. Murphy.[13]

References
  1. Agtuca, Jacqueline (2014). Safety for Native Women: VAWA and American Indian Tribes. National Indigenous Women's Resource Center. ISBN 978-1-5009-1851-4.
  2. DeKeseredy, Walter S.; Dragiewicz, Molly; Schwartz, Martin D. (2017-05-16). Abusive Endings: Separation and Divorce Violence against Women. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-96115-9.
  3. Duquaine-Watson, Jillian M. (2022-02-15). Women's Health: Understanding Issues and Influences [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-4408-7377-5.
  4. "About Us | National Indigenous Women's Resource Center". www.niwrc.org. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  5. Olp, Susan. "Lame Deer woman works nationally to end violence against Native females". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  6. "National Indigenous Women's Resource Center – Global Human Rights Direct". globalhumanrightsdirect.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  7. Shaw, Susan M.; Barbour, Nancy Staton; Ph.D, Patti Duncan; Ph.D, Kryn Freehling-Burton; Nichols, Jane (2018-01-04). Women's Lives around the World: A Global Encyclopedia [4 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-712-5.
  8. "Charity Navigator - Rating for National Indigenous Womens Resource Center". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  9. "Family Violence Prevention & Services Resource Centers". www.acf.hhs.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  10. "NIWRC Launches STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center to Support Urgent Needs of Indigenous Survivors of Gender-Based Violence | NIWRC". www.niwrc.org. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  11. "Housing Center | NIWRC". www.niwrc.org. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  12. "Women Are Sacred Conference | NIWRC". www.niwrc.org. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  13. "Brief of Amici Curiae National Indigenous Women's Resource Center and Additional Advocacy Organizations for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Assault in Support of Respondent" (PDF).
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