A lecture by Sarah Deer, professor of law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, titled Sovereignty of the Soul: Sexual Violence in Native America was presented at the Fort Lewis College Ballroom Thursday.
The presentation informed FLC students, staff and community members about the violence happening to Native Americans.
The event was organized by Molly Weiser, Nancy Stoffer, Kathy Fine and Kay Holmes, staff members at FLC.
Topics discussed in Deer’s lecture included the historical response to sexual violence, traditional law and gendered violence, protecting women and indigenous beliefs.
She defined Sovereignty and violence in tribal governments systems and positive changes in the law in the 21st century.
For tribal cultures there are certain ceremonies within different tribes that can help victims heal, help make them whole again, help find strength and despite the fact a person is a victim, Deer said.
Native American Indigenous Studies field can help with learning the history, and understanding that sexual violence has been a part of the colonizing on this continent, she said.
“We just have to make sure the stories of sexual violence don’t get lost in the field of Native studies,” Deer said.
Having the information and guidance for victims is what is one way college campuses can help victims survive. The victims are the real experts on the matter being. The services is what brings a comprehensive program to a college campus.
“If you don’t have a safe place for victims to talk about their experience it’s really difficult to develop a strong program on a college campus,” Deer said.
Not being afraid to talk about sexual violence, and building awareness by looking at the historical context of where the violence comes from is way to FLC can help in the Native American and Indigenous Studies program, Holmes, assistant professor of NAIS said.
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Along with women who have been sexually assaulted men can be victims also. When people do not take into consideration that men can be victims of sexual assault, the matter becomes unacceptable, she said.
“What’s really great is that there are more and more men now that are coming out about their own experiences,” Deer said. “When they come to a program like this one and talk about their experiences other men will come forward.”
Sexual assault on men not being taken seriously is sad, Holmes said.
“Something there is preventing compassion, and understanding,” she said. “There may very well be a lack of, you know, just not being educated about the topic.”
Sarah Deer was an articulate speaker, bringing emotion to the crowd and using logic in a consistent manner through her rhetoric, Arrin Paul a FLC student said .
“The actual content of what she spoke truly was illumining people who are not aware of the issues facing native women today and that have consistently faced native women for many generations,” Paul said.