Millich present for signing of antiviolence bill

Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich joined other Native women and tribal leaders on Thursday, March 7 to celebrate with President Obama the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets President Obama
Diane Millich — along with her mother, Arlene Millich, and sister, Dedra White — sat before the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council on Tuesday, March 12
President Obama signs the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Millich opened the event and introduced Vice President Joe Biden
Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets Vice President Joe Biden.
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Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich joined other Native women and tribal leaders on Thursday, March 7 to celebrate with President Obama the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets President Obama before he signs the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.
Diane Millich — along with her mother, Arlene Millich, and sister, Dedra White — sat before the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council on Tuesday, March 12 following her visit to Washington. The council recognized her efforts with a formal letter of appreciation and the honor of a Pendleton Blanket.
President Obama signs the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Millich opened the event and introduced Vice President Joe Biden.
Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets Vice President Joe Biden.
National Congress of American Indians
National Congress of American Indians
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
National Congress of American Indians
National Congress of American Indians
National Congress of American Indians
Thumbnail image of Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich joined other Native women and tribal leaders on Thursday, March 7 to celebrate with President Obama the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Thumbnail image of Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets President Obama
Thumbnail image of Diane Millich — along with her mother, Arlene Millich, and sister, Dedra White — sat before the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council on Tuesday, March 12
Thumbnail image of President Obama signs the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Thumbnail image of Millich opened the event and introduced Vice President Joe Biden
Thumbnail image of Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich greets Vice President Joe Biden.
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Southern Ute tribal member Diane Millich joined other Native women and tribal leaders on Thursday, March 7 to celebrate with President Obama the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Millich opened the event and introduced Vice President Joe Biden, sharing her story, which has attracted national media attention recently— including recent articles in The Seattle Times and The New York Times. She was a victim of domestic violence whose husband could not be prosecuted under a 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said tribal courts did not have jurisdiction over non-Natives committing crimes on tribal land.

Provisions carried as part of the reauthorization will prevent that from happening to another woman: The act grants tribal courts the missing authority.

“Indian Country has some of the highest rates of domestic abuse in America. And one of the reasons is that when Native American women are abused on tribal lands by an attacker who is not Native American, the attacker is immune from prosecution by tribal courts. Well, as soon as I sign this bill that ends,” Obama said, moments before signing the bill. “Tribal governments have an inherent right to protect their people, and all women deserve the right to live free from fear. And that is what today is all about.”

“Now that the tribal provisions have been enacted and protection for all women reauthorized, justice can march forward,” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians. “Today is a great day, because it marks the beginning of justice and the end to injustice that has gone unanswered for too long.”

“It was really amazing,” Millich said during a meeting with the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council on Tuesday, March 12. “[I am honored to] speak for those who have been silenced, those that are still scared.”

To honor her work, Chairman Jimmy R. Newton Jr. read aloud a letter of appreciation and gave Millich a Pendleton blanket.

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