“We believe you” is the theme as victims of domestic abuse and their supporters gathered in the State Capitol Rotunda today. Nicole Matthews with the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition says four out of five native women have experienced domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime, and many have died. Matthews says, “These women were sisters, they were daughters, aunties, mothers and friends — and we owe it to them and to their families to do something.”
A bill at the legislature would set up a task force to find out why indigenous women face high rates of domestic and sexual abuse and suggest possible solutions.