Why can't they help Native Americans who need help now instead of waiting until it's too late?
I’d say being able to call in FBI missing person teams during child abductions, and work jointly with local and federal law enforcement on domestic violence cases that cross back and forth from Rez to US
is helping people who need help now.
It’s also a huge undertaking. One of the key issues will always be sovereignty. Espcially as the US Govt. is notorious for taking any attempt on the part of the Tribes to work in concert, as an opportunity to strip them of their rights. Can you imagine if we wouldn’t even cooperate, much less extradite or expend law enforcement resources, on Canadian criminals who crossed our borders; without first insisting that Canada cede their rights/responsibilities/privileges as a sovereign nation to us??? That’s insane. But it happens every time our 2 peoples try and work together.
NIWRC has issued a press release in response to Senator Joni Ernst's (R-IA) VAWA reauthorization bill. We remain hopeful that the Senate will pass a bipartisan bill that protects tribal sovereignty, not diminish it. #VAWA4ALL #TribalVAWA
New Senate VAWA Bill Would Leave Native Women Less Protected and Infringe on Tribal Sovereignty | National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
We are deeply disappointed by the VAWA legislation introduced by Senator Ernst," said Chairwoman Teri Gobin, Tulalip Tribes. "The bill erodes tribal sovereignty and attacks the independence of our tribal judicial systems, and would prevent us from protecting our woman and children from perpetrators. And certainly, we will not allow non-VAWA specific legislation be used as a bargaining chip when it comes to protecting our women and children. The public safety of our communities is of the utmost importance for all citizens, and we urge all Senators to support S.2843, the Senate companion to the bi-partisan bill passed by the House last April.”
'Political football': Protections for Native women caught up in partisan stalemate
The 116th Congress
Members of Congress are as divided as ever and Indian Country is paying the price. The Violence Against Women Act expired this year without further protections for Native women and children. And some key advocates -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- are worried that the controversy will impact other critical issues, such as missing, murdered and trafficked Native Americans.
• WATCH: #MMIW Bills Advance in Senate
So, if I’m understanding correctly, and the Attorney General is attempting to cut through the political red tape to work together with the Tribes until such a time as a VAWA bill can be agreed upon and implemented? That’s brilliant. Or it may just be more political grandstanding, or one of those things that sounds good in theory, but is terrible in practice, like so many DV laws are. I’m really not close enough to the issue & players involved to be able to say.
But if you mean, why spend resources on law enforcement, instead of social services? Totally different department. The Attorney General oversees criminal justice, that’s his bailiwick & the endeavors he’s going to pursue.
