National Indigenous Women's Resource Center Explained

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
Tax Id:	27-4971660
Headquarters:	Lame Deer, Montana
Leader Title:	Executive Director
Leader Name:	Lucy Rain Simpson
Leader Title2:	Board Chair
Leader Name2:	Carmen O’Leary
Revenue:	$3.2 m USD
Revenue Year:	2019
Staff:	20 FTEs
Staff Year:	2023
Website:	niwrc.org

The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) is a nonprofit organization that provides health resources to Native American women and also advocates for women's health, housing, and domestic violence support.^{[1] [2] [3]} The organization was founded and is led by Native American women.^[4]

Background

Founded in 2011, NIWRC is dedicated to ending gender-based violence directed at Native American women through grassroots advocacy.^[5] Their mission is to "provide national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women by supporting culturally grounded, grassroots advocacy."^{[6] [7]} The organization received 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2011.^[8]

NIWRC is a member of the Domestic Violence Resource Network and has received funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.^[9] The organization is headquartered in Lame Deer, Montana.

Activities

NIWRC leads awareness month/day campaigns, policy advocacy, resource outreach events, and on-site technical assistance events serving tribal communities. They also host online webinars and have supported women's resource advocates and professionals across over 160 tribal areas and communities. NIWRC has also published pamphlets and booklets focused on the safety of Native American women, including Restoration Magazine and the Toolkit for Understanding and Responding to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women for Families and Communities.

NIWRC leads a VAWA Sovereignty Initiative which describes its work as "defending the constitutionality and functionality of all tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act, as well as the inherent authority of Indian Nations to protect Native women." The organization also operates the STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center which supports victims of gender-based violence.^{[10] [11]}

NIWRC also sponsors an annual "Women Are Sacred" conference which brings together leaders, advocates, and other experts in the movement to end violence against Indigenous women.^[12]

In 2018, NIWRC filed an Amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Sharp v. Murphy.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Book: Agtuca, Jacqueline . Safety for Native Women: VAWA and American Indian Tribes . 2014 . National Indigenous Women's Resource Center . 978-1-5009-1851-4 . en.
2. Book: DeKeseredy . Walter S. . Abusive Endings: Separation and Divorce Violence against Women . Dragiewicz . Molly . Schwartz . Martin D. . 2017-05-16 . Univ of California Press . 978-0-520-96115-9 . en.
3. Book: Duquaine-Watson, Jillian M. . Women's Health: Understanding Issues and Influences [2 volumes] ]. 2022-02-15 . ABC-CLIO . 978-1-4408-7377-5 . en.
4. Web site: About Us National Indigenous Women's Resource Center . 2020-12-07 . www.niwrc.org.
5. Web site: Olp . Susan . Lame Deer woman works nationally to end violence against Native females . 2023-03-02 . Billings Gazette . en.
6. Web site: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center – Global Human Rights Direct . 2023-03-02 . globalhumanrightsdirect.arizona.edu.
7. Book: Shaw . Susan M. . Women's Lives around the World: A Global Encyclopedia [4 volumes] ]. Barbour . Nancy Staton . Ph.D . Patti Duncan . Ph.D . Kryn Freehling-Burton . Nichols . Jane . 2018-01-04 . ABC-CLIO . 978-1-61069-712-5 . en.
8. Web site: Charity Navigator - Rating for National Indigenous Womens Resource Center . 2023-03-02 . www.charitynavigator.org.
9. Web site: Family Violence Prevention & Services Resource Centers . 2023-03-02 . www.acf.hhs.gov . en.
10. Web site: NIWRC Launches STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center to Support Urgent Needs of Indigenous Survivors of Gender-Based Violence NIWRC . 2023-03-02 . www.niwrc.org . en.
11. Web site: Housing Center NIWRC . 2023-03-02 . www.niwrc.org . en.
12. Web site: Women Are Sacred Conference NIWRC . 2023-03-02 . www.niwrc.org . en.
13. Web site: Brief of Amici Curiae National Indigenous Women's Resource Center and Additional Advocacy Organizations for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Assault in Support of Respondent .