A traditional Native American winter count hangs in the Cangleska shelter in Kyle, conveying the message that, historically, the Native American culture respected women as equals.
Cangleska director Karen Artichoker wants to return to that way of life.
"We want to return to the belief system as to how to respect one another," Artichoker said.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Artichoker wants the public to be aware of the high domestic-violence rate among Native Americans.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 8.1 of 1,000 white women will be abused by partners at some time over the course of their lives.
But among Native American women, 23.2 of every 1,000 will be abused by partners.
Artichoker said her mission is to end all domestic violence. She is an advocate for women of all ages and cultures, but her focus is the high rate of abuse against Native American women.
She said there are a variety of causes.
She refers to a Canadian study that says the impact of colonization and the problems that came with it, including poverty and alcoholism, are to blame for the high rate of domestic violence among Native Americans.
"What we're trying to do now is reverse that," Artichoker said.
She said examining the root of the problem and going back to the basics of traditional Lakota teachings are vital.
Last month, Artichoker testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about violence against women. She spoke about her experiences helping victims of domestic violence.
Cangleska operates two shelters: Lulyahan Oti in Kyle and Ohitika Najin in Rapid City. The Kyle facility was renovated and reopened in May, and now is able to serve twice the people it could before.
Its name, Lulyahan Oti, means "transformation."
"The idea is when a woman comes through these doors, her life is transformed," Artichoker said. "We help her become a stronger person in every way."
The shelter in Kyle houses up to 36 people. It includes a living area, play room and homework room for older children.
In 2006, Lulyahan Oti and Ohitika Najin sheltered 421 women and 483 children.
Almost 2,000 women and children received advocacy services from the shelters, and 783 women received legal services.
"We're looking at a comprehensive approach," Artichoker said. "We're responding to victims' needs and batterers' needs."
Artichoker said Cangleska is unique in that it offers assistance to offenders, not just victims.
She said that is the best way to end domestic violence: Go to the root of the problem.
"There's an offering for rehabilitation," Artichoker said.
Keeping with that method, each year toward the end of summer, Cangleska holds its men's camp, a 10-day event during which men camp out in tipis in Yellow Bear Canyon on the eastern side of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
The men's camp is called Ki Wicasa, which translates to "return to manhood." It offers men an intensive opportunity to relearn who they are as Lakota men.
Most of the men who attend Ki Wicasa have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to some type of domestic-violence-related crime.
Ki Wicasa participation is often one of the conditions of probation for these men.
Heath Ducheneaux, who helps put on Ki Wicasa, said the participants' ways of thinking are often changed by their time at the camp.
"It's not therapy, but we're trying to help men think about their actions and beliefs," he said.
Ducheneaux said the camps consist of men who want to be there to learn something and those who are there only because their conditions of probation require it.
But by the end, Ducheneaux said, almost all of them have positive things to say about the camp.
"Usually by the end, most of the guys down there aren't ready to leave," he said.
Kay Humphrey, media relations coordinator for Cangleska, said the camp focuses on Lakota traditions.
"The camp talks about the communal way of living and what their role is as a present-day Lakota man as a provider and a protector," Humphrey said.
She said one of the biggest obstacles for the offenders is admitting that abuse took place.
"Denial is something hard to overcome for the abuser and for the victim," Humphrey said.
Artichoker said Ducheneaux and other male Cangleska advocates are crucial to getting the message out that violence against women is unacceptable. About one-third of Cangleska staffers are men.
"I think having that balance is important," Artichoker said. "People can't discount the message as easily if it's coming from both women and men."
Mark Rambow, developmental director of Working Against Violence, Inc. in Rapid City, said domestic violence in rural areas and on reservations is a problem because of isolation.
He said one of the main problems he sees is victims needing transportation to shelters.
Artichoker said Cangleska and tribal law enforcement ensure that anyone who needs it has transportation to the Kyle shelter. Advocates and law enforcement officers will transport people to the shelter any hour of the day.
Rambow said WAVI is working to expand some of its services to eastern Pennington County and other surrounding areas.
Rambow said WAVI is applying for a Bush Foundation Grant to expand its service to rural communities.
"We came up with the concept because of the overwhelming amount of people coming in from rural communities," Rambow said.
Right now, that work is in the planning stage. If WAVI's grant request is approved, it will start implementing it toward the middle of next year.
Rambow said the plan is not to build new facilities but to add additional case-management employees who will focus on rural areas.
Mary Corbine, program director at WAVI, said that in smaller communities, there may not be a shelter, but advocates should identify places such as a church or ambulance building that can be used as a safe haven.
"There might not be a shelter there, but maybe we can establish a safe place they can go until they can get to a shelter," Corbine said.
Artichoker said it is important that victims of domestic violence receive a response and that society takes action against domestic violence, which crosses all cultural and economic lines.
"We're not going to be free from violence until we change into a society that upholds respect, balance and equality between men and women," Artichoker said.
But she said she has hope that an end to domestic violence is possible.
"Our goal here is to work ourselves out of jobs because we want to end violence," Artichoker said.
Cangleska staffers offer advice and insight for women wishing to leave violent households:
Reasons why women stay in abusive relationships
* Fear of another beating or being murdered
* No money, food or transportation
* Nowhere safe to go
* Fear of losing children
* Would lose job, home, family and community
* Guilt, feeling of responsibility for the violence
* Cultural or religious beliefs
* Fear of being alone
* Still care about abuser
* Too exhausted, physically injured
Preparing to leave
* Keep evidence of physical abuse, such as pictures
* Know where you can go to get help
* If you are injured, go to a doctor or emergency room and report what happened to you. Ask that they document your visit.
* Contact your local battered women's shelter and find out about laws and other resources available to you before you must use them during a crisis
* If possible, keep a journal of all violent incidences, noting dates, events and threats made
* Try to set money aside or ask family or friends to hold money for you
Source: Cangleska
Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com
