Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 31, 2006 10:13:28 GMT -5
Domestic violence: The view from a Navajo counselor By Erny Zah The
Daily Times Article Launched:10/25/2006 12:00:00 AM
MDThttp://www.daily-times.com/ci_4545665
<http://www.daily-times.com/ci_4545665>
SHIPROCK â€" The root cause of domestic violence could be seen as
someone not being able to control his or her temper. But domestic abuse
is actually a learned behavior, said E. Charles, community educator for
the Home for Women and Children in Shiprock. "It's a learned process
â€" just like how you learn to tie knots on your shoes. It's the
same process to learn how to slap, hit (or) use putdowns," Charles said.
Native Americans trying to overcome learned behaviors may have more
difficulty because of historical trauma or intergenerational trauma,
said Clifford Jack, community educator for the Home for Women and
Children. Jack also facilitates a men's group to help offenders overcome
issues regarding domestic abuse. "There is a backlash of forced
assimilation â€" boarding schools, experiences of attempted
extermination. All those backlashes lead to social ills," he said. He
compared the plight of Native Americans to the slavery experienced by
African Americans or Holocaust survivors of World War II. When he
introduces clients to the group, Jack said, he also includes a more
specific Navajo twist to the idea of forced assimilation. "I run down
Navajo history," he said, adding that he includes stories about Hweedli
or Fort Sumner, where Navajos were forced to live during the 1860s.
Navajos were forced to walk several hundred miles from Fort Wingate and
other areas on the Navajo Nation to Fort Sumner in what became known as
The Long Walk. "That's when they realize where they are coming from,"
he said. "(They) literally faced oppression, which leads to shame and
self hatred. Then they turn to the violence among themselves, Navajo to
Navajo or domestic violence. Instead of making appeals to their boss,
they go home and beat their wives." From that understanding of history
faced by Navajos and other Native Americans, he said, the learning of
how to overcome those situations becomes easier. One of the tools he
incorporates into domestic abuse recovery is a monthly sweat lodge
ceremony. In addition, he has the men's group meets twice a week at two
different locations. He added that though there are women who are
offenders as well, nationally about 95 percent of domestic violence
cases involve men as being the offender. "That doesn't mean we don't
have men coming in here," Charles said about the Home for Women and
Children's shelter. As a result, Gloria Champion, director of the Home
for Women and Children, said there are one-on-one counseling sessions
available for men or women who may be the offender in domestic
situations. She said she does not want to forget the offenders in the
recovery process, and opened the Advocates for Harmony program in 1986.
Jack said he averages about 15 participants a week in a six-month
program and tries to help the offenders, even if they don't think they
have a problem. "Some of them are in denial," he said, adding his
purpose for trying to help people get out of domestic violence cycle
stems from knowing about his mother's experience. He said she was
sexually assaulted by two men when she was 12 years old. When she was
older, her brother-in-law abused her, Jack said. "To this day, she's
still traumatized by those events," he said, adding he helps men
offenders "because they are fathers and uncles. They are relatives. You
can't just let them do damage to their family. When they do that, they
are modeling for their children." Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Events As part of its activities during Domestic Violence Awareness
Month, The Home for Women and Children is coordinating a few events on
Friday in Shiprock. Along with a Wellness Fair beginning at 9 a.m. at
the Shiprock Chapter House, a 10-mile walk called "A Vision for Family
Wellness" is scheduled for midday. Walkers should assemble at 11:30
a.m. at mile marker 33 on U.S. Hwy 64, near the Circle W store in
Waterflow. The walk is planned to begin at noon and conclude at the
Shiprock Chapter House. "I want to get all the men involved," said
Clifford Jack, walk organizer and community educator for the Home for
Women and Children. For more information about the walk and other
services the home offers call (505) 368-5123/5124.
Daily Times Article Launched:10/25/2006 12:00:00 AM
MDThttp://www.daily-times.com/ci_4545665
<http://www.daily-times.com/ci_4545665>
SHIPROCK â€" The root cause of domestic violence could be seen as
someone not being able to control his or her temper. But domestic abuse
is actually a learned behavior, said E. Charles, community educator for
the Home for Women and Children in Shiprock. "It's a learned process
â€" just like how you learn to tie knots on your shoes. It's the
same process to learn how to slap, hit (or) use putdowns," Charles said.
Native Americans trying to overcome learned behaviors may have more
difficulty because of historical trauma or intergenerational trauma,
said Clifford Jack, community educator for the Home for Women and
Children. Jack also facilitates a men's group to help offenders overcome
issues regarding domestic abuse. "There is a backlash of forced
assimilation â€" boarding schools, experiences of attempted
extermination. All those backlashes lead to social ills," he said. He
compared the plight of Native Americans to the slavery experienced by
African Americans or Holocaust survivors of World War II. When he
introduces clients to the group, Jack said, he also includes a more
specific Navajo twist to the idea of forced assimilation. "I run down
Navajo history," he said, adding that he includes stories about Hweedli
or Fort Sumner, where Navajos were forced to live during the 1860s.
Navajos were forced to walk several hundred miles from Fort Wingate and
other areas on the Navajo Nation to Fort Sumner in what became known as
The Long Walk. "That's when they realize where they are coming from,"
he said. "(They) literally faced oppression, which leads to shame and
self hatred. Then they turn to the violence among themselves, Navajo to
Navajo or domestic violence. Instead of making appeals to their boss,
they go home and beat their wives." From that understanding of history
faced by Navajos and other Native Americans, he said, the learning of
how to overcome those situations becomes easier. One of the tools he
incorporates into domestic abuse recovery is a monthly sweat lodge
ceremony. In addition, he has the men's group meets twice a week at two
different locations. He added that though there are women who are
offenders as well, nationally about 95 percent of domestic violence
cases involve men as being the offender. "That doesn't mean we don't
have men coming in here," Charles said about the Home for Women and
Children's shelter. As a result, Gloria Champion, director of the Home
for Women and Children, said there are one-on-one counseling sessions
available for men or women who may be the offender in domestic
situations. She said she does not want to forget the offenders in the
recovery process, and opened the Advocates for Harmony program in 1986.
Jack said he averages about 15 participants a week in a six-month
program and tries to help the offenders, even if they don't think they
have a problem. "Some of them are in denial," he said, adding his
purpose for trying to help people get out of domestic violence cycle
stems from knowing about his mother's experience. He said she was
sexually assaulted by two men when she was 12 years old. When she was
older, her brother-in-law abused her, Jack said. "To this day, she's
still traumatized by those events," he said, adding he helps men
offenders "because they are fathers and uncles. They are relatives. You
can't just let them do damage to their family. When they do that, they
are modeling for their children." Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Events As part of its activities during Domestic Violence Awareness
Month, The Home for Women and Children is coordinating a few events on
Friday in Shiprock. Along with a Wellness Fair beginning at 9 a.m. at
the Shiprock Chapter House, a 10-mile walk called "A Vision for Family
Wellness" is scheduled for midday. Walkers should assemble at 11:30
a.m. at mile marker 33 on U.S. Hwy 64, near the Circle W store in
Waterflow. The walk is planned to begin at noon and conclude at the
Shiprock Chapter House. "I want to get all the men involved," said
Clifford Jack, walk organizer and community educator for the Home for
Women and Children. For more information about the walk and other
services the home offers call (505) 368-5123/5124.