NOW Resist, Resilience and Grit Campaign Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women

This is an historic day for AZ NOW and the National Organization for Women.
July 2, 2017, Orlando, Florida, National NOW Conference: The NOW membership passes policy for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the indigenous women of the world. A huge thank-you to our own Kathryn Mitchell, and to Tupak Huehuecoyotl (Yauhtachcauh) and Eve Reyes-Aguirre (Nahuacalli) of  Tonatierra, and the entire membership of NOW!

Thank you to the entire membership of NOW.
This is an historic day for AZ NOW and the National Organization for Women.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) has a heightened urgency with the policy to end violence against indigenous women.
AZ NOW is honored by Tupak Huehuecoyotl (Yauhtachcauh) and Eve Reyes-Aguirre (Nahuacalli) of Tonatierra for collaborating with our own Kathryn Mitchell in Phoenix, AZ, when they co-authored two resolutions for presentation at the AZ NOW Conference in May 2017.
With the support of the AZ NOW membership, the three continued to work on the resolutions until the day of the National NOW Conference. From there, with Gilda Yazzie, Chesney Richter, Karen Van Hooft, and Sheila Ogea, they carried one of the resolutions through the process, which made it with a passing vote from the National NOW Conference body in Orlando, Florida.

Resist, Resilience and Grit Campaign Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women

WHEREAS, as of 2017, NOW does not have policy supporting the 2007 United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the minimum standard for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world; and
WHEREAS, it is the 10 year Anniversary of the United Nations Resolution on 18 December 2007, Eliminating rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including in conflict and related situations, and recognizing that rape can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide and that NOW does not have a statement, policy or action about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that (1) indigenous peoples experience the highest levels of poverty, marginalization, forcible relocation which contributes to the destruction of Indigenous Peoples' social and political structures, resulting in physical and spiritual dislocation in the US and worldwide, and (2) there is an urgency to protect Indigenous womens’ autonomy and control over their traditional lands in a time of impinging material and economic interests of states and non-state entities; and (3) NOW has not yet made a stand with a policy endorsing our indigenous women and allies who are demanding emancipation to attain free, prior and informed consent of indigenous women's rights;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NOW supports and encourages chapters and states to implement a creative interactive, multimedia, “Resist, Resilience and Grit Campaign” in solidarity to re-educate the agents of oppression on the issues of indigenous rights, contamination of water, and violence against women; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NOW encourages chapters and states to develop a campaign to End Violence Against Women and Allies on Indigenous Lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NOW endorse and implement The UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a means to protect the rights of indigenous women while working with them to contribute toward the solutions to some of our present-day challenges; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NOW encourages chapters and states, as a signal to all local enforcement agencies, National Guard, and military, to support a citizens’ suit against those attacking Human Rights Defenders, Water Protectors, Land Defenders, et al. at Standing Rock.