October deemed Domestic Violence Awareness Month

BY ROGER GRAHAM

Multimedia Producer – @cp_rgraham

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cherokee Nation ONE FIRE along with tribal dignitaries and several young people helped Principal Chief Bill John Baker on Oct. 5 declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the CN.Baker made the declaration official by signing a proclamation.ONE FIRE Executive Director Nikki Baker-Limore said she felt the signing of the proclamation was important for several reasons.“It’s important because 39 percent of Native women will suffer from domestic violence in their lifetime,” she said. Baker-Limore added that getting the word out about ONE FIRE services was crucial. “We can help these women survive.”Some of ONE FIRE’S October events included a booth at the W. W. Keeler Tribal Complex with information about ONE FIRE Victims Services programs and domestic violence prevention, a bulletin board at W.W. Hastings Hospital with domestic violence stats and information regarding ONE FIRE programs and intertribal meetings in Durant to share information about ONE FIRE programs as well as domestic violence and sexual assault information.Other ONE FIRE events included asking CN employees to wear purple on Oct. 20 and an annual Pack It Purple game at Sequoyah High School is scheduled for Oct. 28, in which ONE FIRE staff was expected to sell T-shirts before and at the game to blanket the stands with purple. Purple footballs and information pertaining to ONE FIRE programs were also expected to be given out, and domestic violence stats were to be made available during the game.For the ONE FIRE hours emergency hotline, call 1-866-458-5399. For more information, call 918-453-6939, 918-772-4257, 918-453-5684 or 918-772-4258.