Lumbee Tribe of N.C. and community partners are working to improve skills to support Native Women in the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Today, the Lumbee Tribe Health and Wellness Department hosted a powerful training - Violence Against Native Women and Relatives: Root Causes, Dynamics, and Resilience-Focused Advocacy. Thank you to the team from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center for sharing this important message which deepened the staff and community partners understanding of historical, social, and systemic conditions that contribute to domestic violence in Native communities. 

This training showed the importance of having effective advocacy do more than respond to harm. It must recognize root causes, honor survivor's voices and choices, build on community resilience, and strengthen the relationships needed to a more resilient and safer community.

The training also emphasized survivor-centered language, data collection, tribal sovereignty, culturally grounded advocacy, and the strength and resilience of Native women, relatives, families, and communities. The event supported stronger collaboration among tribal staff, community organizations, and service providers committed to improving responses to violence and reducing barriers to care. 

The Lumbee Tribe’s Enlightened Native Daughters (END-Sexual Assault) Program partners with the Rape Crisis Center of Robeson County to strengthen advocacy, expand access to survivor-support services, and provide coordinated, trauma-informed responses throughout the Lumbee Tribal community. Together, these partners are promoting safety, healing, dignity, and hope while ensuring that survivors are heard, respected, and supported.