The Day of Service

President Obama has highlighted service as a principle initiative of his administration. Martin Luther King Day 2010 has been designated as a day of service throughout America, and through corporate partnership, Disney offers a free ticket to one of its theme parks for one day of service. I have to wonder, however, whether any American Indian focused groups have been included in the selected opportunities because I know other community focused groups have been. Furthermore, while the goal of service is admirable, one day of service is rarely compatible with the needs of a community.

The American Indian community, in particular, faces challenges that cannot be overcome by a single feel good, guilt erasing day. Continued commitment is the necessary prescription to battle the pervasive domestic violence, health care problems, struggles in education, and job and economic mobility stagnation. Domestic violence is unfortunately a recurring headline about the American Indian community. The problem is featured by the Department of Justice, major media, and community focused media. Indian Country Today recently highlighted the victimization with its article "Challenges for Native American Victims of Domestic Violence." A takeaway from this article is the recognition that domestic violence is a problem correlated with many others:

The response of tribal police and courts also creates barriers on reservation lands. A victim is unlikely to come forward with an accusation of domestic violence because of the small communities and distrust of the services available. Victims on reservation lands, like those in urban areas, face difficulties in getting a law enforcement agent to respond, file a report, and help the woman. Incarceration is expensive on tribal lands, so police often do not make an arrest. In addition, sentencing by tribal courts is inconsistent and police may even release a perpetrator before his or her sentence is served to save space and money. As these barriers mount against a victim of domestic violence, she often never experiences justice or is able to live violence-free.

A day of service is not sufficient for this community. A commitment needs to be made to provide education about domestic violence, eradicate the taboo in the American Indian community, recognize these vulnerable women as victims, improve law enforcement capabilities, and make justice requisite rather than selective.

Fortunately, many groups do serve this community and tackle the overwhelming challenge. The Tribal Court Clearinghouse provides a resource of information on Domestic Violence in the American Indian community, highlighting groups that tackle the challenge. The Department of Justice also provides a resource including information about the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Grant Program. The National American Indian Court Judges Association has worked to codify laws against domestic violence as an important step to deter the violence. In addition, many organizations appropriately address domestic violence for all individuals without a particular focus on the tribal community.

The motivation for service should not be a feel good high or the incentive of a theme park ticket (even though this is a nice gesture), but rather motivation should stem from the recognition that by working together to overcome challenges within one's community that the community may excel. Moving forward with coalitions and organizations addressing domestic violence could provide a more stable community, encourage women's contributions, and lead to greater economic opportunity for all. Rather than a day of service, how about we commit to a goal?