Sharing Our Stories of Survival: Native Women Surviving Violence (34 page)

Rape and sexual violence have reached epidemic levels in Indian Country. Without effective and compassionate people who are willing to bring comfort and understanding, many survivors of sexual assault can be left with feelings of hopelessness and unresolved loss. Working with Native women who have been sexually assaulted can be a powerful and rewarding experience. Advocates can help a woman who has been raped find a sense of justice, and finding justice may facilitate healing. Often that justice is not always found within either traditional or contemporary criminal justice systems because the majority of rapes are either not reported or not prosecuted. That is where the role of the advocate becomes very important. Sometimes, for a survivor of sexual violence, the sense of justice might be realizing they “survived” the rape. Advocates can serve as a type of companion, friend, listener, sister, and teacher all wrapped into one. In addition, advocates are often agents of social change who promote a community of nonviolence and peace.

There are certain skills that can be developed and honed to be a more effective advocate, but we should never lose the foundation of our work, which is grounded in ancient and traditional belief systems and structures. This chapter presents an overview of some basic skills that many advocates have found helpful in responding to sexual assault, but it is by no means an exhaustive checklist. In fact, many advocates find that the development of these skills is a lifelong process.

Educating Yourself about Sexual Assault

Federal, state, and tribal laws each have their own definition of rape and sexual assault. Most often, sexual assault is defined as any sexual behavior that takes place without consent of one person. Often, “rape” is defined more narrowly, requiring sexual intercourse (penetration) without consent. Nationwide and in Indian communities, most victims of sexual assault are female. While it is important to acknowledge the existence and needs of male sexual assault victims, this chapter focuses on the unique needs of Native women who have been sexually assaulted.

One of the ways to define sexual violence is to develop an understanding of what it is
not
. There are a number of myths about sexual violence in the dominant culture, many of which are also commonly held myths in Indian communities. It is important to address these myths, because they can lead to victim blaming. A few of the most common myths are addressed below.

MYTH: Women who are raped deserve it because they have been drinking and/or using drugs.

FACT: Consenting to the use of alcohol or drugs is not the same as consenting to sexual activities. A person who uses alcohol or drugs does not cause someone to assault her; rather the perpetrator chooses to take advantage of a person who is vulnerable due to the alcohol or drugs. In many instances, the perpetrator may have drugged the victim or coerced her into drinking in order to make her defenseless and vulnerable.

MYTH: Most rapes are committed by strangers.

FACT: The vast majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim already knows. The National Crime Victimization Survey indicates that 59 percent of Native victims indicated they knew their assailant.
¹
Sexual assault is often a factor in domestic violence, though victims seldom report this type of violence. Unwanted sexual activity is always a crime.

MYTH: Rape can be avoided if women avoid unsafe areas or other “dangerous places” where people might be hiding or lurking.

FACT: Rape can happen anywhere, but the majority occur in places that are familiar to the victim, such as in the victim’s car, her home, or an acquaintance’s home. Even though rapes can occur in deserted areas such as parks, alleys, roadways, it is important to remember that no one knows ahead of time that a rape is going to occur. The bottom line is that women have the right to go where they want to go and not be raped.

MYTH: A person who has experienced a “real rape” will be sobbing and should have visible injuries.

FACT: There is a
continuum
of response to sexual violence, ranging from a very expressed response to a very controlled response. How a person responds to a traumatic event such as rape depends on many variables such as her socialization, how she generally handles crisis situations, the type of support she’s receiving, the length of time that has elapsed since the rape, and other factors. There is no right or wrong way to respond to such a violent assault as rape. The fact that a survivor does not have visible injuries may be due to the fact that she cooperated with the perpetrator in order to minimize the physical trauma or the possibility of being killed. Whatever the victim did in order to survive the rape was the right thing to do. Cooperation in order to survive is not the same as consent. Consent is not possible when there is fear, force, or coercion.

MYTH: True sexual assault victims will report the crime immediately to the police.

FACT: There are many reasons why a victim may choose to not report her assault to the police or to anyone. A few of these reasons are listed below.

• Need to protect family honor in Indian culture
  : There is often a belief that whatever you do in life affects the clan/family system, which often numbers in the hundreds. If the victim is already feeling guilty about the incident, she may not want to subject her “family” to further humiliation due to the gossip and negative backlash from misconceptions about rape.
  
• Fear of retaliation by perpetrator or by perpetrator’s family
  : The perpetrator may have directly threatened the victim with further harm in order to prevent her from reporting to law enforcement. There can also be an implied threat that is not directly conveyed, but arises from fear of the power the perpetrator used in the assault. The fear can be greater if the perpetrator has relatives who are in key positions of power in the community (such as the police force, tribal council, or tribal courts). There are increased reports of sexual assault by Indian spiritual leaders and medicine men across Indian Country (see chapter 13). These men are often seen as omnipotent, well-respected in their communities, and very powerful.
  
• Fear and distrust of systems:
  Many times, survivors and their families may distrust the contemporary criminal justice systems for valid reasons. Both anecdotal evidence and documented cases indicate that Indian people have experienced maltreatment by law enforcement, courts, hospitals, and welfare systems. Incidents range from victim blaming/racist attitudes to removal of children from their homes to physical brutality/excessive force. In many instances, victims believe that even if they report their assault to police, nothing will be done. This belief may be even stronger if the perpetrator was non-Indian. They may also be concerned that they will be arrested for something they did in the past and fear that the perpetrator will disclose this if they report.
  

Developing Basic Crisis Intervention Skills

In some communities, advocates become involved in cases that have happened just a few hours or days ago. Working with women who have been raped in the immediate aftermath of the incident can be challenging. Each case is different, and each woman’s response to the crime is unique. Usually, a woman’s immediate needs fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. I want to contact medical personnel.
   
2. I want to contact a friend or family member.
   
3. I do not want anyone to know what has happened.
   
4. I do not know what to do.
   
5. I want to be alone.
   
6. I want to do something to the perpetrator(s).
   
7. I want to contact law enforcement.
   

After a rape, many victims feel unsafe. To a bystander, those fears may appear to be unrealistic or irrational. It is extremely important to find out what those fears are, to normalize those fears as part of the trauma of rape, to affirm that this is a terrifying time, and to aid the victim by brainstorming protective measures to take in order to minimize the threat and imposing harm that any one of the fears may cause.

Common fears:

1. The perpetrator knows where she lives and might return
   
2. The perpetrator may harm a family member
   
3. Being alone
   
4. Going out of the house
   
5. Retaliation by perpetrator’s family
   

Some of the protective measures may include:

1. Assisting the victim with having her locks changed
   
2. Reminding the victim that it is okay to call 911
   
3. Informing the victim of her right to file for restraining order or order for protection
   
4. Informing the victim that if the perpetrator is arrested, the court can order the perpetrator to stay away from the victim through a “no-contact” order
   
5. Helping the victim identify someone such as a friend or relative who can stay with her or who she can stay with until she feels safer
   
6. Providing the victim with other options such as informing trusted neighbors/coworkers if they see the perpetrator around the victim’s home/work that they should call the police or inform the victim immediately
   

The trauma of rape usually impacts a victim in a holistic way. The rape or sexual assault may also be thought of as sexuality assault because as human beings, our sexuality is our whole person: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When rape occurs, a victim is left with an overwhelming sense of powerlessness because the perpetrator’s primary motive for the rape is for power and control. One of the most important things that advocates can do is provide survivors with information and options.

In a crisis situation, it is sometimes difficult to identify all possible choices and actions. If we can help the survivor weigh the “pros” and “cons” of different possibilities, our service will be incredibly helpful. The human brain and human spirit go through dramatic changes after an event such as sexual assault. This may make it difficult for a survivor to analyze all of her options. It is also important to remember that rape is a common occurrence in the lives of many Native women. Often, women may experience multiple incidents of sexual violence throughout the course of their lives (see chapter 8). For example, it is possible that a woman who reports a rape today may have experienced childhood sexual abuse many years ago. These prior experiences may influence her feelings about the current situation.

Needs after Assault

PHYSICAL—There are a variety of reasons that a victim may need medical attention after a sexual assault. The most obvious reason is to address any physical injuries. Medical attention is also needed to gather and document forensic evidence in the event the victim seeks to have the crime prosecuted. Survivors who seek medical attention can also receive antibiotics for the prophylactic (preventive) treatment of sexually transmitted infections and receive emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy due to the rape. It is important to understand that, historically, many Native women have experienced negative treatment by medical professionals. Many have experienced forced sterilization or have been given poor medical attention (especially on reservations by unskilled medical staff). Therefore, advocates and other service providers need to be mindful of the victim’s reluctance to seek medical attention and that her
stoic
affect may be more about distrust and fear than any other reason. If this reaction is misinterpreted and the victim is treated as though she is ignorant, the victim will be even more reluctant to report the crime. Advocates can assist the victim in making choices by providing her with good information about what she can expect should she decide to seek medical attention and by offering and providing support as needed.

EMOTIONAL—A survivor may also need some counseling and/or emotional support for her feelings. She may choose to receive this emotional support from a rape crisis counselor (not necessarily someone from her race or community, in order to protect her confidentiality and anonymity) or address her emotional pain through traditional ceremonies. In addition, the survivor may need help identifying a trusted person within her immediate family or extended family system. As service providers and first responders, we can also aid the survivor’s emotional healing by
validating
her feelings. Validating feelings requires active listening and withholding judgment. It is important to provide accurate, thorough information about options so she can begin to reclaim her right to make choices for herself. An effective counselor will support the choices that the survivor makes, even if they are not the choices she would make herself.

MENTAL—Service providers also need to address the mental aspect of the victim’s assault. The aftermath of sexual assault can be a very confusing time. Victims often say that they are “feeling really crazy trying to make sense of what happened.” A survivor may be confused about the exact sequence of events of the incident, which often diminishes her credibility. She may also believe all the myths about sexual assault and may not even believe this to be a “real rape.” As service providers, it is important to assure the survivor that her experience is legitimate. We can point her to places where she can understand more about why rape happens (rape crisis centers, books, and brochures), which can help her begin to realize that she is not responsible for the rape. At minimum, we should say the words, “You didn’t deserve this. It wasn’t your fault.”

SPIRITUAL—At some point in time, the spiritual aspect of this violation may need to be addressed in order for full healing to occur. Because sexual assault can have such a profound impact on the spirit, it may be important to contact a traditional healer or medicine person to respond to the survivor. It is important to understand that spiritual healing is not limited to attending worship services in an organized religious denomination but can include options such as meditation, solitude, and prayer. While many people desire to have such intervention early in the process, each survivor is different. Be sure to respect the wishes and needs of the victim as she identifies them. When referring a woman to a traditional healer, ensure that this person is a reputable healer.