Congress made it mandatory that six states enforce PL-280 expanding their jurisdiction of Tribal lands

The California Victim Compensation Board (often referred to as CalVCB) is a state-wide service that provides financial assistance for many crime-related expenses. Victims who suffer physical injury, the threat of physical injury, or emotional injury can typically qualify for compensation. Additionally, family members or loved ones (derivative victims) may also be eligible for services through CalVCB....

With over 39.5 million people, California is the largest state by population. Likewise, California is home to over 12% of the total Native American population in the United States, making California home to the biggest population of Native American residents in the country......

The time of year has come, parents every where are finishing up last minute “back to school” shopping and preparing their children for a new school year. At times, a kid may have a wish list of items they feel they need to be fully prepared for school. This list can include new shoes, new clothes, or the latest trend in school supplies.....

Hello! My name is Nathaly, and I am so pleased to be working with the Cahuilla Consortium as their new Mobile SA Victim Advocate!

Five years ago, a 22-year-old woman went over to a neighbor’s house to model a dress for $20. The neighbors, though they lived in the same apartment building, did not know each other very well. Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, the 22-year-old woman was a member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. To view the “dress” mentioned by her neighbor, Savanna, followed her neighbor into the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, 40-year-old Brooke Crews, knocked the 8-month pregnant Savanna unconscious by shoving her down.....

Over the past few decades, the gun industry has been in the news a lot. With an alarming rate of mass murders and other historically high rates of gun violence, pressure has been on lawmakers for some type of legislative gun reform. In the past few days, legal reforms have passed through the state (California) and federal levels in hopes of reducing gun violence in the country...

32 years ago on July 26th, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. Along with providing protections to persons with disabilities, the ADA requires reasonable accommodations be made by employers for employees that have disabilities....

With Pride month coming to an end, we thought it would be good to examine the case that has allowed same-sex marriage in the country, Obergefell v. Hodges.....

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, possibly one of the most important pieces of legislation for gender equality. Originally titled "Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972" (commonly referred to as Title 9), this law was enacted on June 23, 1972. Title IX protects against sex-based discrimination toward students....

Currently speaking, it is estimated that 43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced physical violence, rape, and or stalking compared to just 35% of heterosexual women....

The 15th of June has been recognized internationally as a day of education and awareness to prevent Elder Abuse. As a whole, a common definition for elder abuse has been described by the Administration for Community Living as “a term referring to anyone knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult”....

Before colonization in the United States, “Two-Spirit” members of indigenous communities were held in high regard and were blessed to perform specific cultural and social functions within their communities. This contemporary term (being established in the 1990’s) was derived from the Ojibwa word “Niizh manitoag”....

If you have been harmed, harassed, or threatened you, you may qualify for one of three common types of protection orders. Though there are many types of restraining orders (depending on the state you live in), the CCVAP Advocates primarily utilize civil restraining orders, domestic violence restraining orders, and elder/dependent abuse restraining orders when assisting with our clients.

Throughout May, there are many awareness campaigns, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, and the World Day for Cultural Diversity (5/21). Among all of these is another often overlooked day, National Missing Children’s Day, which takes place on May 25th.

Often, people who have been victimized by Domestic Violence have experienced some extent of strangulation in their relationship. It is estimated that 68% of women who experience intimate partner violence will also experience a near fatal strangulation.

Jeans are worn by millions of people every day, however annually, the last Wednesday of April is a multinational day of awareness surrounding jeans. Denim Day has for decades been the longest running sexual assault awareness campaign in the world.

Debra Marie Black Crow was born in Wyoming in 1958. She was the third eldest daughter of her family. She was also a Native American of the Arapaho and Oglala nations. Part of her childhood was spent living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Eventually, Debra graduated high school and a had the desire to become a nurse.

March of 2022 has seen a huge win for Women’s rights and for victims of crime. As part of the 2022 Omnibus Spending Package, the United States Government has voted and signed legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through 2027.....

The Cahuilla Consortium Victim Advocacy Program is please to welcome our new Mobile Domestic Violence Advocate Analis!

Today, March 8th is recognized as International Women's Day. In response, we have decided to recognize three Native American Women who have stood up for what they believe in and advocated for their fellow indigenous women.

“Breanna Moore just sparkles” was the way the 20-year-old was described by the hosts of the popular podcast Crime Junkies. Breanna (who was usually referred to as Bree by her close friends and family) was part of a special episode of Crime Junkies in February of 2020 for Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. In the year 2014, Bree was tragically murdered by her then boyfriend Joshua Almeda.....

Love at first sight, a common dream shared by many people. You know, the thought of locking eyes with someone from across the room and them being the perfect partner for you....

On any given weekday in the United States, parents spend time waking their children for school. As part of their daily routine, parents generally do not think much of this task. However, on one cold Monday in November of 2016, Jill Walker received the shock of her life when attempting to awake her daughter....

As we have learned from the other stories included in the human trafficking series, trafficking has existed in the world for centuries. In modern times, the human trafficking industry has developed to utilize technology to increase access to victims....

For years, images of Sacagawea have been associated with women’s freedom and independence. Ironically, the woman that is a symbol for hope, freedom, and American independence was also a victim of human trafficking....

Often, when we think of the story of Pocahontas, we think of images of a Disney character frolicking through the woods with her pet racoon and humming bird. However, this story romanticizes one of the most well documented cases of a Native American Woman being a victim of human trafficking.

On the early morning of March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was violently murdered outside of her New York City apartment.....

As we close out 2021, many celebrations will take place this upcoming weekend. Everyone brings in the New Year in different ways; Some of us stay cuddled up on the couch watching the ball drop, others take to the dance floor to dance the night away, while others spend the night surrounded by family.....

Most people have heard someone use the phrases “boys will be boys”, “real men don’t cry”, or “just be a man about it”, (among others) toward young men.....

I met him through a mutual friend. My friend told me that he was extremely outgoing and friendly, and everyone loved him. He seemed nice, so when he asked me to dinner, I said “yes” without hesitation. He picked me up from my house, gave me flowers and opened the car door. "Wow! He's too good to be true."

Victims of crime are given their rights in printed form by law enforcement, when requested, after a crime has occurred. ALWAYS ASK FOR THEM!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and during this month we connect and collaborate in unity with individuals and other organizations throughout our Nation to raise awareness about domestic violence and share about prevention efforts being made. When one hears the words “domestic violence,” the visualization that comes to mind is typically a female victim of male-inflicted abuse. Although statistics...

This Friday, in recognition of California Native American Day, September 24, 2021, we will be closing our office for the day to celebrate and acknowledge the diverse and culturally rich Native American...

Hello, my name is Joseph Saenz Yanez and I am excited...

Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone.” Our bodies produce it when we are in “fight or flight” situations. Adrenal glands produce different hormone...

Everyone here is so gracious and giving. Seeing the work that CCVAP is doing has made me curious about becoming an advocate. Who knows, I might return in a few years.

Cahuilla Consortium is hosting the "Community Story Tree!"

Google defines listening as, “a station for intercepting electronic communications.” That is technically correct, however, it fails to mention anything about undivided attention or patience. 70% of a person’s day...

The CCVAP welcomes CIMC TWEX, Lily Clarke, our Intern Advocate...

Here are 6 ways to support...

he CCVAP has a new member to the team, his name is Dobby and he is a black and tan, Dachshund. He is 7-months old and has been coming into the CCVAP Office each day with his mom, ...

Take a look at the legislation that was passed by in 2018, known as Savanna’s Act. The law is named after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was murdered in 2017.Savanna was a vibrant 22-year-old expectant mother, and...

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship of trust and emotional connection with child or person that is vulnerable so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse their target person. A groomer/perpetrator knows...

We are living in the digital age, which allows us to connect with people all over the world without ever leaving our homes. With the Internet, we can be...

Human Trafficking in today’s world is not a simple business. Many may have a basic understanding of what Human Trafficking (HT) is, but some may not be familiar with some of the basic “types.”

May 5th was declared the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People.

He was arrested and convicted. Later, he appealed his conviction. The court ruled that because she was wearing tight jeans...

She returned to her reservation to find healing on the land and within her culture.

She was 13 and it was her first school dance. The boy who asked her to dance was a friend, he was always kind and always courteous. They danced the first one, a fast one and then he asked her to stay for the second, a slow one. She put her hand...

"So why didn’t you just leave?" That question is the most frequently asked one regarding a battering situation and the one that causes anguish for so many domestic violence survivors.

It’s the hardest thing to do. To ask for help. We hear this a lot from those our program has helped.