Resources: Freedom and Security
Why are rural Alaskans so passionate about the concepts of freedom of speech, gun rights, right to privacy, security, and tribal jurisdiction? How does remoteness factor into in all of these issues?
Safety for Alaska Women
The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica are teaming up on a yearlong project to address sexual violence in Alaska. The publication of the first article featuring the cover title “Lawless,” brought such attention to the profound problems with rural Alaskan law enforcement, that Attorney General Barr visited the state shortly afterward and declared a public safety emergency.
The Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center is a tribal nonprofit “dedicated to ending violence against women in partnership with Alaska’s 229 tribes and allied organizations. ANWRC’s philosophy is that violence against Indigenous women is rooted in the colonization of Indigenous governments.” Their goal is to empower tribes to protect their citizens.
The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault provides training, legal and legislative advocacy, and resources in support of their goal to support survivors and end violence in Alaska. Their website provides a comprehensive statewide resource page.
On a national basis, check out National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC) and StrongHearts Native Helpline (operated in conjunction with the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Internet safety is a growing issue, whether online dating, or dealing with harassment or stalking. From basic privacy protection, to evaluating whether or how to remain anomymous, this blog post The Empowering Internet Safety Guide for Women provides timely, thoughtful tools to increase personal safety in the internet era.
The Alaska Native Justice Center provides culturally based advocacy and prevention for legal issues.
The Maze of Injustice is the report by Amnesty International that critically evaluates the safety, or lack of it, for indigenous women in America.
For an interesting read about Alaska jurisdiction issues, see Advancing Tribal Court Criminal Jurisdiction in Alaska, by Ryan Fortson, published in the Alaska Law Review in 2015, Volume 32:1.
Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (#MMIWG)
Canada’s final report on MMIWG names the epidemic as cultural genocide.
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of the Press Foundation “protects and defends adversarial journalism in the 21st Century.”
Freedom House “is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world.” They provide an annual score and detailed assessment for ranking Freedom of the Press and Freedom on the Net.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation “is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.”