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December 2025

Standing Together For Safety And Sovereignty

At NIWRC, our work begins with a foundational truth: safety is sovereignty. Protecting our relatives has always been a collective responsibility—one rooted in community, culture, and generations of resilience. With your continued support, NIWRC provides culturally grounded training and technical assistance, advances national policy reforms, strengthens safe housing solutions, and uplifts survivor-centered research. From advocating for stronger VAWA protections to advancing MMIWR efforts and supporting Native youth, your generosity fuels this movement every day. This work is personal, it is generational, and it requires all of us. Thank you for standing with NIWRC. 

Winter Quietude: Our Annual Pause for Rest & Renewal

NIWRC will be closed from December 17, 2025, to January 6, 2026, for our annual Winter Quietude period. Each year, we intentionally pause to rest, reflect, and renew ourselves for the work ahead. This practice models the wellness, balance, and community care that are essential to sustaining our movement, supporting survivors, and serving Tribal Nations. We wish you peace, health, and love throughout this holiday season.

For immediate support, the StrongHearts Native Helpline is available 24/7. Visit strongheartshelpline.org and select “Chat Now,” or call 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483).

20th Annual Office on Violence Against Women Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation

January 21-23, 2026, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, Minnesota

The 20th Annual Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation will be held January 21–23, 2026, at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. This consultation is a vital opportunity for elected Tribal leaders and their designees to provide recommendations on improving the federal response to violence against Native women. We encourage leaders and advocates to prepare using NIWRC’s Tribal Consultation resources, including our priorities document and resource hub.

Your Story Matters—Help Shape Our Movement

NIWRC is committed to strengthening safety, sovereignty, and justice for American Indian and Alaska Native women and children. To guide this work, we invite survivors, advocates, and community partners to share their experiences. Your stories deepen our understanding, inform our resources, and help uplift solutions grounded in culture and community. Every relative deserves a safe, stable future—and your voice can help make that possible.

Submissions are welcomed  from:

• Tribal Leaders
• Survivors
• Advocates
• Law Enforcement
• Courts/Legal (Tribal, federal, state, local)
• Health/Medical Providers
• Youth Program Workers/Outreach
• Community Health Representatives
• Educators
• Counselors
• Social Services/ICWA Workers

Join The Movement: NIWRC Is Hiring

Are you interested in advancing safety for Native women and communities across Indian Country? NIWRC is seeking passionate individuals for the following full-time, remote position (extensive nationwide travel required).

Open positions:

• Program Specialist ($60,000-$70,000, DOE)

To learn more, read the full job description at niwrc.org/careers. To apply, email careers@niwrc.org with a completed NIWRC Employment Application, cover letter, resume, and two writing samples. This position will remain open until filled.

New Research Note: COVID-19 Impacts on Indigenous Youth

This new research note highlights the social impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous youth and examines how cultural connectedness supported resilience during the pandemic. The report explores the social, emotional, and community factors that shaped youth experiences and centers the importance of community-driven cultural practices in promoting healing and wellbeing. This Research Note explores:

• The social impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous youth
• The health and well-being of Indigenous youth after these social impacts
• The importance of community-driven connections for Indigenous youth resiliency

In the News

• National Congress of American Indians Announces 2025 Election Results at 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace

• GivingTuesday: Groups Making a Real Impact in Indian Country

• Minnesota Native Groups Expand Efforts To Protect Unhoused Women

• Millions in Funding Sustains the National Indigenous Domestic Violence Helpline

• American Indian/Alaska Native Community Disproportionately Impacted by Gun Death New VPC Study Reveals

• Bring Them Home

• Theaters Nationwide to Participate in 2026 National Day of Theater Readings for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives

Funding Opportunities

• U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women 
  • Apply for Funding
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families
  • View Open Solicitations- refine by agency, eligibility, and category
• The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Office on Violence Against Women, and Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services
  • View Open Solicitations
    

Upcoming Events

• December 17, 2025 - January 6, 2026: NIWRC Winter Quietude

• December 21: Winter Solstice
• January: National Stalking Awareness Month
• January 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

• January 21-23: 20th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation

Featured Resources

Looking for a previous edition of
Advocate! Beyond the Shelter Doors? 

This newsletter is supported by non-federal funds. Some activities, resources, and events mentioned here are federally funded through cooperative agreements with the Office of Family Violence Prevention Services (OFVPS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federally funded content is marked accordingly with the relevant grant number and disclaimer.

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