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ANHC Raises Totem in Honor of Native Boarding School Survivors

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In October 2023, more than 600 individuals gathered at the Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) to witness the raising of the first totem pole dedicated to all Alaska Natives who were forced into…

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In recent years, the plight of Native American women has garnered increasing attention. A distressing pattern of violence, disappearance, and neglect has highlighted the urgent need for targeted interventions. Among the organizations stepping forward to address this crisis is Save Our Sisters (SOS), a grassroots initiative dedicated to supporting Native women across various communities.

The crisis facing Native women is both deep-rooted and multifaceted. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetimes. This includes sexual violence, physical violence by an intimate partner, stalking, and psychological aggression. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice finds that Native American women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average. Behind these statistics are stories of real women and families who have been left devastated, underscoring the critical need for effective interventions.

Save Our Sisters emerged as a response to this ongoing crisis. Its mission is multifaceted, focusing on raising awareness, supporting victims and their families, and advocating for policy changes that protect Native women. One of the key strengths of SOS is its community-driven approach. By working closely with the communities it serves, SOS ensures that its efforts are culturally sensitive and tailored to meet the unique needs of Native women.

Raising awareness is a crucial component of SOS's work. By shining a light on the issues facing Native women, the organization seeks to break the cycle of silence and neglect. Through educational campaigns, public speaking events, and social media outreach, SOS is bringing these issues to the forefront of public consciousness. This increased visibility is a crucial step in mobilizing support and resources for Native women.

Support for victims and their families is another cornerstone of SOS's mission. The organization provides a range of services designed to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by violence. This includes access to crisis counseling, legal assistance, and support navigating the criminal justice system. By offering a compassionate and supportive environment, SOS helps to empower women to rebuild their lives.

Advocacy for policy change is also a vital part of Save Our Sisters' work. The organization actively engages with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to advocate for laws and policies that better protect Native women. This includes efforts to improve data collection on violence against Native women, enhance the responsiveness of law enforcement, and ensure that Native women have access to justice.

Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress. Initiatives like Save Our Sisters are making a tangible difference in the lives of Native women. By raising awareness, providing support, and advocating for change, SOS is helping to create a safer, more just future for Native communities.

The crisis facing Native women is a complex and deeply entrenched issue. However, through the dedicated efforts of organizations like Save Our Sisters, there is hope for change. By working together, communities, policymakers, and advocates can help end the cycle of violence and ensure that Native women are protected, respected, and valued.

The work of SOS and similar organizations is a testament to the power of community-driven action in addressing systemic challenges. As awareness grows and more resources are mobilized in support of Native women, the vision of a world where they can live free from violence and fear becomes increasingly attainable.

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The Role of Save Our Sisters in Supporting Native Women

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In recent years, the plight of Native American women has garnered increasing attention. A distressing pattern of violence, disappearance, and neglect has highlighted the urgent need for targeted...

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Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its effects are not distributed equally. Indigenous communities, particularly those with deep ties to their lands and traditional ways of life, are often among the first and most severely impacted. In Alaska, a region shaped by glaciers and permafrost, the consequences of a warming planet are threatening and altering the very foundation of Alaska Native cultures.

Subsistence hunting and fishing have for millennia served as the cornerstones of Alaska Native food security and cultural identity. Rising temperatures disrupt these practices in several ways. Warming oceans cause fish populations to shift in distribution and abundance. More extreme weather events are making hunting and fishing expeditions more dangerous, and melting permafrost is comprising ice houses and ice cellars used for food storage. Sea ice, crucial for hunting marine mammals like seals and walrus, is forming later and breaking up earlier, shortening the window for safe hunts of such animals.

This disruption to traditional food sources has a ripple effect on Alaska Native nutritional health and well-being. Reduced access to sustenance resources and decreased fish and wild game populations lead to food insecurity, depriving Alaska Native families of essential nutrients and causing malnutrition. Shifting to store-bought foods to compensate for the decline in traditional foods can exacerbate this issue, due to high price points on nutritional foods and the exorbitant cost of importing even low-quality processed goods. Malnutrition can increase diet-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Moreover, the physical landscape of Alaska is also undergoing dramatic transformations that impact Alaska Native communities. Permafrost thaw is causing coastal erosion, threatening villages and infrastructure. Rising sea levels further endanger Alaska Native communities, many of which are located on the coast or near rivers. The relocation of entire villages, a drastic measure that some communities have already undertaken, is the only option remaining in several areas. However, relocation is a costly and complex endeavor that requires identifying suitable relocation sites, securing funding, and ensuring the new location can support traditional practices and cultural identity. For some Alaska Natives, relocation may also pose a risk to cultural identity and social cohesion.

Climate change subsequently presents numerous health problems in Alaska Native communities, as well as exacerbates existing traumas from forced displacement and land dispossession due to colonialism. Mental health issues like anxiety and depression are on the rise as residents grapple with the disruption or loss of cultural traditions and the uncertainty surrounding their future.

Despite these challenges, Alaska Native communities are at the forefront of food-related climate adaptation efforts, drawing on traditional knowledge and scientific expertise to develop solutions. This includes implementing programs to monitor and address harmful algal blooms, as well as restoring wild clam populations through mariculture projects. There's also a focus on community agriculture as an alternative to wild hunts, taking advantage of warmer temperatures that allow for more crop cultivation. Additionally, Alaska Native communities are developing kelp farms in order to combat ocean acidification and absorb carbon dioxide.

The future of Alaska Native communities is intricately linked to the health of the environment they inhabit. Climate change presents a serious threat to their way of life, but it also serves as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration. Many Alaska Native communities are vocal advocates for climate action on a national and international scale, and their voices are crucial in raising awareness about the disproportionate impact of climate change on Indigenous communities around the world. International organizations like the United Nations emphasize the importance of including Indigenous knowledge in developing climate solutions. By combining traditional knowledge with scientific advancements and advocating for systemic change, Alaska Natives help ensure a future where their cultures and communities can thrive.

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Climate Change and the Future of Alaska Native Communities

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Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its effects are not distributed equally. Indigenous communities, particularly those with deep ties to their lands and traditional ways of life, are often...

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Stanford Graduate, Business Leader in Alaska, Sam Schimmel

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Stanford Graduate, Business Leader in Alaska, Sam Schimmel

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Sam Schimmel studied political science at Stanford University in California, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in 2022. Prior to graduation, he spent time as co-chair of the Board of Judicial Affairs, in addition to engagement with a multitude of Stanford based groups including Stanford's Hoover Institute Indigenous Economies program and student government. After Stanford, Sam Schimmel enrolled in a law program at the Georgetown Law Center in Washington, DC. He is a RISE fellow and a member of the university’s Native American Law Students Association as well as the National Native American Law Students Association Area 5 Representative.

Beyond his studies, Mr. Schimmel has worked as the operator and co-owner of Ursus Alaska, LLC, since establishing the Kenai-based adventure tourism business in 2018. His responsibilities in this position include the management and continued growth of an extensive client base. In 2023, he joined the Alaska Native Justice Center in Anchorage as a law clerk. When not working or studying, he enjoys a range of outdoor activities, from hunting and fishing to berry picking and traditional subsistence practices.