Document Type

Senior Honors Project

Publication Date

5-2020

Abstract

Indigenous women experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, and few people have acknowledged this reality. Today there is little care or understanding as to why, or how we can stop this from continuing. However, indigenous communities and allies have demanded legislative action from local and national policymakers through protest. For many protest functions as an effective tool for instigating change because it signals to lawmakers: “Pay attention to this issue. Your constituents care about this.” By informing lawmakers to address legislation that either reinforces one side of an issue or discourages it, therefore directly promoting their needs outside of voting and attending town halls. We think of the Suffragettes, and their work to achieve the 19th Amendment previous to 1920, and even the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have all used their voices and abilities to take action in order to make real change in the government. Through this project, I will be focusing on violence against Indigenous women, and how thousands of cases have inspired protests and movements regarding this issue, then have successfully caused for legislative change.

The second part of my project will consist of my own research on one particular injustice at St. Kate’s. Specifically, I will be sharing research collected from the university archives, the greater history of the Dakota people in Minnesota, and advocating for land acknowledgement from the St. Catherine University Administration and Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet.

Department/School

Honors Program

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