President Jonathan Nez, 24th Navajo Nation Council members, and domestic violence prevention advocates at the signing of the Navajo Nation Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation at the Council Chamber in Window Rock, Ariz. on Oct. 21, 2019.
Published October 22, 2019
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and members of the 24thNavajo Nation Council joined together on Monday, to recognize the month of October as “Navajo Nation Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and “Disability and Autism Awareness Month” prior to the official start of the 2019 Fall Council Session at the Council Chamber in Window Rock, Ariz.
Prior to the signing of the proclamation, President Nez joined Council Delegates Amber Kanazbah Crotty and Eugene Tso, domestic violence prevention advocates, and community members for a domestic violence awareness walk that was held in coordination with Disability and Autism Awareness Month in Window Rock on Monday morning. The walk was coordinated by the 24thNavajo Nation Council and the Strengthening Families Program.
“Everyone here today has been impacted by domestic violence in one way or another and many of these issues stem from the modern-day monsters like alcohol and drug abuse, depression, suicide, and others,” said President Nez. “As a Nation, we are doing our best to come together and help, but there is always more we can do.”
The proclamation recognizes that “all families living on the Navajo Nation are entitled to a safe, healthy, stable, and loving environment which nurtures and protects each family member,” and that “domestic violence is a wide-spread serious crime that affects many of our people, thus impacts the core of our Diné way of life, culture and traditions; domestic violence is a multi-generational family cycle which disrupts many Diné families leaving an impact of long-term emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical harm.”
“Domestic violence affects far too many families and children on the Navajo Nation. For many, it’s something that is a reality in the presence of their homes. With the signing of the proclamation, we continue to bring awareness to this issue and to mobilize our Nation’s resources through the Strengthening Families Program to help our Navajo people,” said Vice President Lizer.
Delegate Crotty, who has been a longtime advocate for children and adults living with disabilities, called upon leaders and community members to collaborate more and devote more time and resources to providing assistance.
The Navajo Nation is taking a stand against domestic violence, family violence, dating violence and sexual assaults through the Strengthening Families Program/Department of Family Services within the Navajo Division of Social Services. The Strengthening Families Program will provide prevention and crisis intervention services for victims of domestic violence, family violence, dating violence and sexual assault in partnership with other federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies, according to the proclamation.
The Nez-Lizer Administration thanks everyone for participating in the walk to raise awareness for domestic violence prevention and disability and autism awareness.
The post Navajo Nation President Nez declares Navajo Nation Domestic Violence Awareness Month appeared first on Native News Online.
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