400 stories stitched together create statement on violence against Native women

Tens of thousands of Native American women, who are sexually assaulted 2.5 times as often as any other ethnic or racial group, have been unable to prosecute their perpetrators because of US policy for decades. The 2013 Violence Against Women Act began to address this injustice for domestic violence survivors, but jurisdictional issues still prevent rape survivors from getting the justice they deserve.

The Monument Quilt is a bright, red, hand-sewn story of survival. Each 4-square-foot piece is created by a survivor of sexual assault or domestic violence. On April 2, 400 such stories will be displayed on the East Lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol building.

FORCE and the Native Alliance Against Violence are hosting this event to bring attention to the state of violence against Native women and reconnect survivors to community. The public is invited to join on April 2 at the Oklahoma State Capitol Building first-floor rotunda (2300 N. Lincoln Boulevard) for a program from 10:30-12 followed by a quilt-viewing on the East Lawn from 12-3pm.

Native American women suffer from the highest rate of sexual assault in the country, and 80 percent of those assaults are committed by non-Natives. A staggering 39 percent of Native women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. The Native Alliance Against Violence is Oklahoma’s tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition.  NAAV serves tribal programs that provide victims with the protections and services they need to have safe and happy lives.

The Monument Quilt is a physical space that provides public recognition to survivors and reconnects them with their community and its members. The Monument Quilt seeks to change the public perception of who experience sexual violence, by telling many stories, not one.  The quilt will forever change how the US responds to rape, from a culture that publicly shames survivors, to a culture that publicly supports them. Survivors, loved ones and supporters are invited to make their own quilt square following these instructions.