Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah nonprofit announced the launch of a statewide domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans to connect with a culturally informed advocate on Monday.
"The RAWI helpline seeks to help people who are experiencing sexual assault and domestic violence. Every caller will be met by a caring, compassionate victim advocate. Well-trained advocates will have a list of available services culturally specific for shelter, housing and advocacy," announced Yolanda Francisco, executive director of Restoring Ancestral Winds Inc. "While there are so many, many underserved populations that deserve equal access to these quality services, we can achieve the goal of ending violence only if we focus on engaging and working with tribal communities whose statistics paint a dismal picture."
Native Americans experience violent victimization at a rate greater than other U.S. racial or other ethnic subgroups, according to the National Violence Against Women Survey. Additionally, the survey found that the average annual rate of rape and sexual assault among Native Americans is 3.5 times higher than for all races.
Despite Native American and Alaska Native female victims being more likely to need services, they are less likely to have access to those services, the National Institute of Justice found.
"The hotline is more than just a number. It symbolizes a promise, a promise to listen, to believe and to act. The hotline is more than a resource, it is a lifeline, a lifeline that has the power to save lives, restore dignity, and help break the cycle of violence," said Ralph Dellapiana, Restoring Ancestral Winds board member.
The helpline will be open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with all calls that come in after hours being received by the national helpline Strong Hearts. The helpline has been a collaborative effort with help from Utah state Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, the Utah Coalition to End Sexual Violence and the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.
The hotline is more than just a number. It symbolizes a promise, a promise to listen, to believe and to act.
– Ralph Dellapiana, Restoring Ancestral Winds board member
Romero passed a bill in 2020 forming the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force, later renamed the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force. The task force secured funding to study the rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state and potential causes.
"The study found that there's gaps in trust, trusting relationships between both Indigenous communities and law enforcement and tribes and the state of Utah, and that contributes to the challenges in reporting, investigating and risk and responses to cases of (murdered and missing Indigenous relatives). And that's why I think it's so important that we're here today," said Romero. "We're here to say that we see you and that we believe you. And that if you call this hotline, you will get the help and services you need. Because a lot of times, people think it's about the person who's gone, murdered or who is missing. But a lot of that doesn't only impact that family, (it) impacts the entire community."
The helpline can be accessed by calling 1-833-688-4325. The helpline is free and confidential.
