The U.S. Department of Justice will grant close to $100 million to tribal governments across the country to support Native American crime victims. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Klamath Tribes obtained a combined total of over $1 million.
The Klamath Tribes will use the money to hire a victim advocate for their violence and sexual assault program, says Social Services Director Marvin Garcia.
GARCIAL: “It’s going to have a big impact. We get more awareness out there so we can educate people on what domestic violence is, and how to recognize it, and what to do with it. Often times it’s limited to just comforting the person or sympathizing with the person. But, there’s a lot of other things that can be done to help that person.”
Garcia says the tribe only has one advocate who oversees around 100 cases a month. Federal statistics show Native American women experience violence at a higher rate than any other demographic. However, because of legal barriers few perpetrators are prosecuted at the federal level, especially non-tribal members.
The Klamath Tribes recieved $396,793 and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians recieved $714, 783, which will be used for transitional housing and restorative services. All grant money was provided by the Office of Justice Programs' Office for Victims of Crime.
