“Trafficking has impacted Native communities for centuries, since the earliest point of contact with Europeans. According to journal accounts, Christopher Columbus engaged in the exploitation of Indigenous people, including providing Indigenous women and girls for his crew, and tolerating rape and other atrocities.”

 – Victoria Sweet, Disproportionate Impacts of Human Trafficking on Native Communities

native YOUTH

… are 2.5 times more likely to experience trauma from exposure to violence than non-tribal peers.

… experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a rate of 22% – the same rate as veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan – which is triple the rate of the general population.

There is a link between childhood abuse, trauma, and future exploitation.   

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as … “stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect. They may also include household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance use disorders.” ACEs are known to have lifelong detrimental impacts on a person’s well-being. While many ACEs materials exist, few focus specifically on American Indian and Alaska Native children. 

“Seventy-nine percent of the Native American women involved in prostitution that we interviewed were victims of childhood sexual abuse by an average of four perpetrators.”

– Nicole, advocate for Native women, quoted within The Life Story, Child Sexual Abuse