Durango Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) hosted the 6th annual Violence Against Indigenous Relatives Symposium, “Together We Heal.” The day-long symposium addressed sexual violence and healing in Indigenous communities, with Raven Nyx – SASO Cultural Outreach Coordinator II, as the emcee of the event. Nyx and her team organized the event at the SunUte Community Center, Saturday, Nov. 9. Speakers featured: Michelle Lachner, a military sexual assault survivor; Bernadine Beyale, Executive Director of 4Corners K-9 Search & Rescue, joined by other search and rescue members – Allisa Begay and Andrea Beyal – and Moby, a cadaver dog of the non-profit organization. The Symposium closed with a five-person MMIR discussing the issues and challenges of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) in Indian Country. The panel included Southern Ute tribal member Trennie Burch – Co-Founder of Ignacio Out and Equal Alliance & MMIR Advocate, Marlys Big Eagle – National Native American Outreach Services Liaison, Eliot Neal – MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney, SW Region, Reycita Billie – PSAP Supervisor/MMIP Liaison Navajo nation Police, and Melody Delmar – Director of the Office of the Liaison for MMIR Colo. Division of Criminal Justice.
Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) Cultural Outreach Coordinator, Raven Nyx introduces members of Durango SASO to begin the 6th annual Violence Against Indigenous Relatives Symposium, “Together We Heal.”
Southern Ute Tribal Council member, Marge Barry gave the invocation to begin the Violence against Indigenous Relatives Symposium.
Moby, a cadaver dog and owner Bernadine Beyale, of the 4Corners K-9 Search & Rescue, based out of Farmington, N.M. spoke about their non-profit organization, and experiences in locating, rescuing, and recovering lost and missing persons on Native American Tribal Lands.
Southern Ute tribal member, Trennie Burch, co-founder of Ignacio Out and Equal Alliance and MMIR advocate spoke on the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) panel. Burch, one of five panel members spoke about the challenges facing MMIR in Indian Country.
Becki Jones (Diné), Program Director of Native Community Health Network, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains spoke on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in Indian Country.
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
