FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | VAWO | FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1999 | 202/307-0703 |
INDIAN TRIBES TO RECEIVE $4.7 MILLION
TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Forty-two Indian tribal governments in 19 states will receive more than $4 million in funding to improve services for Indian women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, the Justice Department announced today. In addition, funds can be used to enhance prosecution efforts in these cases. The $4.7 million in FY 1999 STOP Violence Against Indian Women grant funds are being awarded through the Department's Violence Against Women Office (VAWO).
"Tribal communities have traditionally lacked services for domestic violence victims," said Attorney General Reno. "These funds will help strengthen the system's ability to assist these victims and improve justice for Indian women."
Ten tribal governments that have not previously received STOP Indian funds will be awarded grants ranging from $50,000 to $90,000. An additional 32 tribal governments will receive grants up to $285,556 to continue projects begun with FY 1995 and FY 1997 grant funds.
"Indian women who suffer from domestic and sexual abuse are often left geographically and emotionally isolated because the services they need are unavailable or too far away," said Bonnie Campbell, VAWO Director. "These funds allow us to bring services to these women and meet their unique needs."
The American Indian Law Center, Mending the Sacred Hoop, and Sacred Circle, organizations comprised of Indian experts and leaders in their tribal communities, will receive a total of $2.3 million to provide technical assistance and training to the STOP Indian tribal grantees. The consultants include tribal judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, advocates and Indian law scholars.
Four percent of each fiscal year's STOP appropriation is statutorily reserved for the discretionary grants to tribal governments to develop and strengthen tribal law enforcement, prosecutorial strategies and victim services in cases involving violent crimes against Indian women. In Fiscal Year 1999, the set aside equals $8.2 million.
The STOP Violence Against Indian Women grants are authorized under the Violence Against Women Act provisions of the 1994 Crime Law. Attached is a list of the specific grant awards.
More information about STOP and other violence against women efforts is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/VAWGO or OJP's Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov, or call the National Criminal Justice Reference Service toll-free on 1/800-851-3420.
###
VAW99048
After hours contact: Linda Mansour on 202/616-3534 or page on 202/516-6843
STATE |
TRIBAL GRANTEE |
AWARD AMOUNT |
ALASKA | Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes |
$50,000 |
Hoonah Indian Association |
$50,000 | |
CALIFORNIA | Southern Indian Health Council |
$88,169 |
MAINE | Passamaquoddy Tribe |
$90,000 |
NORTH DAKOTA | Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe |
$90,000 |
OREGON | Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs |
$90,000 |
WASHINGTON | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe |
$90,000 |
Quinault Indian Tribe |
$50,000 | |
Upper Skagit Indian Nation |
$50,000 | |
WYOMING | Shoshone and Arapaho
Joint Business Council |
$90,000 |
TOTAL |
10 |
$738,169 |
April 1999
STATE |
TRIBAL GRANTEE |
AWARD AMOUNT |
ALASKA | Bristol Bay Native Association |
$105,014 |
Native Village of St. Michael |
$95,760 | |
South Central Foundation |
$162,527 | |
Tanana Chiefs Conference |
$142,361 | |
ARIZONA | Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community |
$285,556 |
CALIFORNIA | Round Valley Tribal Council |
$89,175 |
IDAHO | Nez Pierce Tribe |
$97,306 |
MASSACHUSETTS | Wampanoag Tribe
of Gayhead |
$65,197 |
MICHIGAN | Bay Mills Indian Community |
$86,064 |
Hannahville Indian Community |
$96,500 | |
MISSISSIPPI | Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians |
$90,000 |
MONTANA | Crow Tribe |
$99,743 |
Fort Belknap Indian Community |
$156,364 | |
NEVADA | Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe |
$104,268 |
NEW MEXICO | Jicarilla Apache Tribe |
$125,101 |
Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council |
$145,209 | |
Pueblo of Acoma |
$100,000 | |
Pueblo of Jemez |
$111,154 | |
NORTH CAROLINA | Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians |
$90,000 |
NORTH DAKOTA | Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold Reservation |
$79,605 |
OKLAHOMA | Apache Tribe of Oklahoma |
$90,000 |
Muscogee Creek Nation |
$124,974 | |
Osage Tribe of Oklahoma |
$199,961 | |
OREGON | Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde |
$88,500 |
SOUTH DAKOTA | Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe |
$121,441 |
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe |
$133,920 | |
Oglala Sioux Tribe |
$231,663 | |
Rosebud Sioux Tribe |
$240,000 | |
WASHINGTON | Suquamish Tribe |
$154,777 |
WISCONSIN | Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa |
$101,477 |
Oneida Tribe |
$88,787 | |
St. Croix Chippewa Indians |
$110,625 | |
TOTAL |
32 |
$4,013,029 |
April 1999