What is an equitable partnership?
In states where there is a state domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition and a tribal domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition there is the opportunity to strive for equitable collaborative partnerships. This partnership can be beneficial if both are willing to create a relationship that is honest, respectful, trustful, and communicative. The partnership can be responsive, inclusive, reciprocal, and collaborative on problem solving, advocating for quality services, and sharing resources.
Why are equitable partnerships important?
Equitable partnerships and interaction between State and Tribal Coalitions is very important to the ongoing work in helping victims of violence. As kindred advocates in this movement, communication is key to understanding and learning from each other. Each brings their own experiences that contribute to the overall endeavor to overcome obstacles and ending domestic violence. By working together, coalitions have a greater impact at the national, state, and local levels.
Local programs rely on the coalitions to provide assistance through funding sources, training, technical assistance, and resources. Individually, coalitions do not have all the answers but through communication and coordination with each other, they can find those answers to support the work with survivors and their children.
What are some examples of equitable partnership?
- Reciprocal membership in each other’s coalitions
- Implementing a regular standing meeting to share information, identify ways to collaborate, and create opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding
- Hold joint membership meetings with domestic violence programs and tribal programs
- Facilitate joint trainings for advocates and other allied professionals
- Attend joint meetings with the state regarding funding and state planning
- Identify and apply for grants jointly to develop and implement statewide projects
What are some examples of how State coalitions can support Tribal coalitions?
- Trust in the competence and authority of Tribal Coalitions to serve their membership
- Support the Tribal coalition in their applications for grant funds
- Advocate for Indigenous Nations to be given equal access to resources, including but not limited to federal funding, housing, and legal resources and services.
- Refer advocates and local programs to Tribal coalition for technical assistance and training as appropriate
- At meetings or events where the Tribal coalition is not present, state coalition staff should advocate for their presence
- Advocate for the Tribal coalition to be invited to the meetings that the state coalitions are invited to attend
- Advocate for monies to go directly to the Tribal coalition to distribute to their member programs rather than the state coalition making that decision
- Be a comrade by ensuring that only Indigenous Nations or tribal led/owned nonprofits receive funding to serve Indigenous communities
Examples of equitable partnerships
Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition
Germaine Omish-Lucero: “As the former Executive Director for one of the 19 Tribal Coalitions, Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, in CA, I have worked on building our relationship with our state coalition, California Partnership to End Violence. I have served as a board member for the California Partnership and the current Executive Director, Keely Linton continues that relationship. This partnership has helped each of our coalitions learn from each other. One of the greatest strengths to come from this relationship is to bring forward the plight that California Indigenous tribes have faced over the years from first contact to present day and how contact plays into the impact of violence in our tribal communities. Our tribal coalition has helped to facilitate many training sessions with various non-native programs throughout the state to educate on tribal issues. We have worked with the CA Partnership advocating leadership on legislation for victims. We participate with each of our state conferences and bridge gaps in services. As we continue to grow as coalitions within the state of California we have both learned to value the relationship and look to the future to bring an end to the violence.”
Wabanaki Women’s Coalition
Jane Root, Executive Director, Wabanaki Women’s Coaltion (WWC): “The WWC has had a good relationship with our state sexual assault coalition, the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA). From the beginning MECASA, opened their membership to the Tribal Advocacy Centers even before WWC was even a thought. They also shared their policies and other resources with me as I was developing the WWC. The state domestic violence coalition, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) was a little more challenging in developing a relationship. It took time to develop mutual respect and for them to open membership to Tribal Advocacy Centers. However, I can say today that we have a good relationship and share our training with each other’s members. They now are our best ally. Some of the ways MECASA and MCEDV have supported WWC is through invitation to all their training and conferences and depending on funding availability, they have offered to all our Tribal Advocates and the WWC, travel assistance to attend their events. They have advocated for WWC to be at the table when we were not invited. WWC has shared a bookkeeper via contract with both MECASA and MCEDV, which has enabled us to not have to train a bookkeeper about the financial requirements of OVW. Most importantly, both MECASA and MCEDV supported the inclusion of three (3) new tribal seats on the Maine Domestic and Sexual Abuse Commission. They each gave up one of their seats to make room on the Commission for WWC.”
Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition
Leanne Guy, Executive Director, Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition (SWIWC): “Since its inception in 2006, SWIWC has worked collaboratively with Arizona’s state domestic violence coalition, the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV), formerly known as the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV). In fact prior to becoming a coalition, tribal advocates who would later become the founding board members of SWIWC, partnered with several organizations including ACADV to provide the first ever statewide tribal domestic violence awareness conference. Over the years SWIWC and ACESDV have worked to maintain a respectful relationship and have learned how to be better allies to each other. A few years ago tribal and state coalitions gathered in Minnesota to become better acquainted and to commit to developing supportive relationships built on trust and respect for one another. It was here that SWIWC and ACESDV executive directors made a commitment to always check in with each other, to be honest and inclusive when appropriate (as related to ensuring tribal input in matters impacting tribes), to advocate for one another when one is not present and should be (mostly pertaining to the tribal coalition being at the table where funding and services are discussed and decisions made), and to ensure that proper referrals are made (mostly in terms of tribes requesting training and technical assistance services). Working together is not always easy, but both coalitions have mutual respect and a true desire to ensure a long-lasting and collaborative relationship.”