NAAV forms new executive board

• Creek citizens named Executive Director and Vice-President

by Renee Brewer
Native Alliance Against Violence

OKMULGEE — In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, President Obama also released a proclamation reminding citizens of the importance of this issue.

“Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of all ages, leaving a devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and circumstance. A family’s home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and desperation when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victimized by family members. Since the 1994 passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, championed by the Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its response to this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far too many women and families in this country and around the world are affected by domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country.”

The Native Alliance Against Violence recently completed the first board training last week with First Nations from Longmont, Col. They uploaded their novation to OVW and are now a fully-functioning coalition. Locally, the organization’s Executive Director and Creek citizen Renee Brewer said she is excited to take on the challenge and work with tribal Nations to put a stop to violence.

“I look forward to working with each and every one of you in the future and hope to build long standing respectful relationships. These wonderful and committed individuals who have agreed to dedicate their time and expertise to ensure that Oklahoma Indian Country is represented in a fashion that will be helpful, respectful and culturally appropriate, while building and developing partnering members,” Brewer said.

 The following are members of the new NAAV Board: Shawn Partridge, Vice-President (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) Case Manager Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Dawn Stover, Treasurer (Cherokee) ORCPI Oklahoma Regional Community Policing Institute, Renee Brewer (Muscogee (Creek)), NAAV  Executive Director, Jason O’Neal, President (Citizen Potawatomi) Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Chief,  Shelley Miller, Secretary (Kiowa) Director Apache Tribe of Oklahoma DV Program, Kelly Stoner, Legal Advisory Board Member (Cherokee) Director Native American Legal Resource Center, Heather Napier, Regional Board Member (Seminole)  Director Seminole Nation DV Program, Karen Gaddis, Regional Board Member (Cherokee) Manager Chickasaw Nation DV Program, Kimberly Stephens, Regional Board Member (Seminole), Director Absentee Shawnee Tribe DV Program, Dee Killion, Regional Board Member (Quapaw) Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma.

 Board members not in the photo above include: Linda Goodwin, Regional Board Member (Choctaw) Director Choctaw Nation DV Program Center; Casey Ross-Petherick, Legal Advisory Board Member (Cherokee) Deputy Director Native American Legal Resource Center.

On October 28, 2009 the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program held a Domestic Violence Survivors Panel at the Mound building from 11 a.m.-noon.