Sacred Hoop Coalition

Tribal Domestic Violence Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

The Sacred Hoop Coalition is a statewide Tribal Domestic Violence Coalition serving all 11 tribal communities as well as urban programs in the state of Minnesota. The purpose of our coalition is to build the capacity of survivors, advocates, Native women’s organizations and victim service providers to end violence against Native women.

We believe that community organizing and dialogue at the local level increases the opportunity to develop strong, cooperative working relationships with one another in the work to end violence against women in our communities. The challenge for our communities is to reclaim traditional views of women, developing culturally-based responses to intimate partner violence that ensure the safety of Native women and hold those who batter accountable for their use of violence.

The Sacred Hoop Coalition provides training, technical assistance, and resources to tribal communities in Minnesota organizing to address domestic violence. It is our goal to build community-based responses that address violence against Indian women; keeping their voices at the forefront of our work.

Sacred Hoop Coalition Staff

Alyxis Feltus

Grand Portage Ojibwe (Sacred Hoop Tribal Coalition Outreach Coordinator). Alyxis is committed to ending all forms of violence against Native women and children. She has been a member of the Sacred Hoop Coalition since 2010, while working as the Native women’s resource advocate for the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (DAIP) in Duluth, MN. As the Native women’s advocate, Alyxis provided direct services to domestic violence victims and facilitated the women’s education group for domestic violence survivors. She also coordinated and facilitated DAIP’s Women’s Non-Violence Program (a group for women arrested for use of force against an intimate partner), and the Council on Non-Violence, a coordinated community response to domestic violence between Carlton County and the Fond du Lac Reservation in northeastern MN. Alyxis is a graduate of Praxis International’s Advocacy Institute and is currently in the Blandin Foundation’s Reservation Community Leadership Program. She coordinated the Greater Northern Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force sub-committee on the trafficking of Native women in northeastern MN and is a founding member of the Native Sisters Society, which focuses on the impact of sex trafficking of Native women within Duluth, MN and the surrounding areas. Alyxis has a bachelor’s degree in American Indian studies, with a minor in natural history from the University of Minnesota Duluth. During her internship with the Fond du Lac Cultural Museum, Alyxis helped in gathering the natural resources to build a birch bark canoe and learned about birch bark baskets, quill work, beading, moccasin making and plant uses. To keep balanced, Alyxis follows the Ojibwe traditions and spiritual practices.

Nikki Allen

Cree, Multi-ethnic (Sacred Hoop Coalition Training and Resources Coordinator). Nikki is passionate about ending violence against all women and fighting for the most vulnerable among us: indigenous, two-spirit/ LGBT and women of color. She first began working on women’s issues as a volunteer in fund development and crisis-lines for several Iron Range women’s organizations as a teen. Nikki studied at the College of St. Scholastica and is currently working on a master’s degree in non-profit administration. Over the years, she has managed and worked with dozens of non-profits; developing boards and funds, creating new programs and curricula, designing projects, coordinating direct actions, providing direct service and advocacy, collaborating on legislation, consultation and public outreach. She loves utilizing her talent for writing and her passing privilege to be a voice for people who have often been silenced through generations of systemic oppression and trauma.  After spending two years living on Lake Vermillion, on the Bois Forte Reservation, Nikki has returned to her family farm where she’s cultivating a sustainable lifestyle, writing, and learning about natural healing.

Rachel Goodsky – Noodiinikwi (Windwoman)

Anishinaabe – Marten Clan, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Sacred Hoop Coalition Membership Outreach Coordinator). Rachel grew up moving between the South Minneapolis Phillips neighborhood and the Leech Lake Reservation in Northern Minnesota. She has been working to address domestic violence and sexual assault since 2003, most recently as a DV advocate for the Dabinoo’Igan Shelter and as a case manager for the Giiwe Mobil Team at the American Indian Housing Organization in Duluth, MN. Rachel is a graduate of the Sacred Hoop Coalition’s Aboriginal Focus-Oriented Complex Trauma (AFOT) Training. She loves helping people and she relates to everyone, so this work is second nature. Rachel and her family are traditional; she loves beading, sewing, and the summer pow wows. She has three young children who dance and she’ll be dancing too.

StrongHearts Native Helpline

Need to talk? The StrongHearts Native Helpline (1-844-762-8483) is a safe, anonymous and confidential service for Native Americans affected by domestic violence and dating violence. Advocates are available at no cost Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time when you are ready to reach out. StrongHearts offers immediate peer-to-peer support, crisis intervention, safety planning and referrals to culturally-appropriate resources. Visit strongheartshelpline.org for more information on abuse types and behaviors.
 
 

Coalition Trainings & Events

Check back regularly for the latest in workshops and trainings that are offered!

More Information»
 
 

We are hiring!

POSITION TITLE:  Legal Policy Development Resource Specialist

TYPE: Regular

PROGRAM:  Mending the Sacred Hoop

STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

OPEN UNTIL: April 22, 2019

TO APPLY: Please send CV or resume, cover letter and references to; taolson@mshoop.org.

MENDING THE SACRED HOOP, INC is committed to strengthening the voice and vision of Native peoples.  We work to end violence against Native women and children while restoring the safety, sovereignty, and sacredness of Native women.  Our work to restore the status of Native women is organized through programming that provides technical assistance, grass roots organizing, advocating, organizing Native women through leadership strategies, and special projects dedicated to the safety of Native Women and their children.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Legal Policy Development Resource Specialist is responsible for the delivery of technical assistance to tribal grantees which includes but is not limited to:  information and referral, material development, consultation and strategic planning with grantees, training, speaking, and the coordination of other training events.  Responding to requests for grantees and other organizations on issues of violence this position also sets up trainings, communicates with faculty and trainers, and communicates with OVW staff and other tribal and national organizations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Activities

  1. Assist in the development of training agenda, training, and the development of written material resources on Violence Against American Indian & Alaska Native women through coordination and implementation of grantee trainings and TA requests with program staff by participating in duties including but not limited to the following:
    1. Assist in disseminating information to grantees
    2. Respond to referrals and requests from tribal grantees and others, build relationships with communities and organizations potentially eligible for training and TA services, as well as help maintain existing relationships
    3. Contact and communicate with faculty/trainers, including ongoing faculty identification and recruitment
    4. Facilitate meetings with trainers, presenters, and speakers and staff prior to and during trainings.
    5. Arrange for trainers and material to be available during trainings
    6. Coordinate on-site technical assistance to tribes on an as-needed basis who are experiencing difficulties in the implementation of their OVW grant.
    7. Participate in conference calls with OVW Program staff, in particular, the Tribal Unit Program Specialists
    8. Assist in gathering and reviewing new material for the use in training, consultation, on-site grantee visits, grantee requests and other tasks associated with providing technical assistance to grantees. Participate in the development of resource materials; packets, newsletters, monographs, power-points or any other forms of resources with staff and faculty; develop a list of topics, and method of disseminating to tribal grantees.
  2. Develop/ provide training and resources for grantee focused on systems advocacy, legal issues, and public policy such as criminal & civil justice systems, legal advocacy, program development, and other related topics
  3. Support members’ systems advocacy efforts a by developing materials, distributing informational publications, delivering training, and responding to requests for on- and off-site technical assistance.
  4. Collaborate with attorneys and other system professionals to increase grantee capacity regarding a variety of policy and legal issues facing Native survivors and tribal communities, including the building capacity to provide direct legal representation for survivors.
  5. Provide technical assistance to member program advocates, private and legal services attorneys, judges, court personnel, child advocacy personnel, and social service workers, and other professionals on issues impacting survivors and their children.
  6. Collaborate to provide trainings to court personnel, judges, guardians ad litem, and child welfare professionals on custody considerations for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
  7. Respond to emerging public policy issues that impact grantees or further MSH’s mission by researching, analyzing and assessing laws, policies and system responses to survivors and their children. Coordinate public policy and legislative advocacy initiatives and activities implementing MSH’s public policy platform on current issues and trends, as needed.
  8. Represent MSH on policy committees and conduct advocacy on behalf of MSH with national and state policy leaders.
  9. Participate in committees, commissions and task force work as needed and assigned
  10. Keep accurate records about technical assistance provided and assist in the submission of progress reports in a timely manner.  Participate in grant reporting, management, and funding solicitations as needed.  Track and report all required information.
  11. Communicate, support, and participate with other staff on programs, projects, and other activities associated with training and technical assistance provided by MSH, including staff meetings and other meetings/events as directed.
  12. Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

 

  1. Must have a Juris Doctorate and admission to any bar in the United States, in good standing. Minnesota admission preferred.
  2. 5 years’ experience required (10 preferred) practicing in family law, federal Indian law and policy, and all civil areas related to post assault safety planning and legal remedies.  Knowledge of legal and systems issues involved in domestic violence and sexual assault, especially as this knowledge relates to legal issues in Native communities and solving problems facing Native survivors. Previous background in domestic violence, sexual assault, anti-trafficking advocacy preferred.
  3. Possess a clear understanding about the dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking of American Indian & Alaska Native women and children
  4. Must have a clear understanding of historical trauma and the importance it plays on domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, and a strong base of cultural competence to work with survivors who have experienced out of home placement, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, arrests and incarceration at rates unequal to other populations.
  5. Must have a clear comprehension of the criminal justice system, public policy, civil justice, and systemic barriers facing survivors. Must be able to successfully navigate through each division in order to effectively develop training material and resources for tribal grantees.
  6. Ability and willingness to work with a team management approach and represent the interest of MSH on a national, tribal, local and regional basis.
  7. Excellent written and oral communication skills.  Ability to produce regular publications and/or other written material in a timely manner.
  8. Demonstrated knowledge and experience developing training, training material and other resources on issues related to violence against Native women.
  9. Self-directed and motivated and able to work independently
  10. Computer skills; email, internet, word processing, and other programs needed in the ongoing development of developing education and training methods and resources.
  11. Valid driver’s license, insurance, and the ability to travel locally and nationally.
 
 

Working to End Violence Against Native American Women
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