This November, in honor of Native American Heritage Month, CAASE commemorates the strength, culture, and resilience of Indigenous communities, particularly the Native tribes with ancestral ties to the land we now call Chicago. The Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa, Ho-Chunk, Miami, and other tribes stewarded this land for centuries. Recognizing their heritage also compels us to confront the ongoing injustices Indigenous communities face, particularly the disproportionate levels of sexual violence and exploitation. 

Native American women and gender-non-conforming people endure some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the United States. A report by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that over 56 percent of Native women experience sexual violence in their lifetime—more than double the rate for other racial groups. Additionally, a comprehensive study by the National Institute of Justice found that 84 percent of Native women experience some form of violence in their lives, with 56 percent reporting sexual violence and 55.5 percent experiencing intimate partner violence. These statistics highlight the extreme levels of violence Native women face and underscore the need for meaningful interventions to address this crisis. 

The tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women further illustrates the intersection of sexual violence, trafficking, and systemic neglect. In 2016, nearly 6,000 cases of missing Native women and girls were reported, but only 116 were logged in the federal Department of Justice’s missing persons database, according to the Urban Indian Health Institute. The severe underreporting, along with law enforcement’s frequent failure to adequately investigate, reflects a historical and ongoing failure to protect Native women and girls. 

These disparities are rooted in a long history of colonial violence, systemic racism, and economic deprivation. The forced displacement of tribes from the Great Lakes region, including those traditionally inhabiting the land that is now Chicago, led to a loss of sovereignty and cultural resources that impacts Native communities today. The legacy of this trauma affects both urban and reservation communities, leaving many Native people vulnerable to violence and exploitation without adequate resources for healing or justice. 

At CAASE, we stand as allies in advocating for the safety and dignity of Native survivors. We continue to support legislative reforms like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was reauthorized in 2022 to give Native tribal courts jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators of violence on tribal lands. This represents a critical step in addressing the justice gap that exists for Native communities, but further action is necessary. We are also looking forward to the implementation of a new law to require Native American history be taught in in Illinois schools. We must continue to push for culturally relevant services, increased funding for Native-led anti-violence programs, and sustained national attention on missing and murdered Indigenous women. 

As we honor the heritage of the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, Odawa, Ho-Chunk, and Miami people, we also commit to addressing the injustices they continue to face. This month, and every month, we stand in solidarity with Native communities, advocating for resources, justice, and a future where every Native person can live free from violence and exploitation.  

This piece was published on November 11, 2024. It was authored by Ryan Spooner and edited by Lizzy Springer and Madeleine Behr. Learn more about our staff here.