By Kelsey Owle
Across the United States, Indigenous women face an epidemic of violence that is as urgent as it is often overlooked. For Cherokee families on the Qualla Boundary, these statistics are not abstract as they echo across homes, schools, and community gatherings.
According to the National Institute of Justice, 4 in 5 Native women experience violence in their lifetime, and more than half experience sexual violence. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Indigenous women are murdered at rates up to 10 times higher than the national average in some areas. For too many families, this crisis is compounded by high rates of cases that remain unsolved or unreported, leaving loved ones without answers or justice.
This reality has fueled the nationwide movement to end the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) a crisis that resonates deeply with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and neighboring tribal nations. Community leaders, advocates, and survivors point to the lasting impacts of historical trauma, generational poverty, and the rural barriers that make accessing help more difficult for Native women and families.
“Every relative affected by violence is a story of loss that affects generations of our people,” said Maggie Jackson, Qualla Boundary MMIW Co-Chair, “Abuse thrives in silence, and we cannot remain silent, our voice and our presence protects survivors.”
Domestic violence remains one of the most significant risk factors for Native women’s disappearance or death. The link between intimate partner violence and MMIW underscores the urgent need for culturally informed prevention, survivor-centered support, and coordinated law-enforcement response.
Cherokee culture offers powerful lessons for addressing these crises. Traditional teachings honor women as life-givers and emphasize the responsibility of the community to protect each member. Advocates say reclaiming these values can guide modern approaches to safety, justice, and healing.
Reflections of Inspiration (ROI), a local nonprofit, has taken up this charge by integrating cultural strengths into its domestic-violence advocacy. Through trauma-informed workshops, culturally curated care packages for survivors, and storytelling as a healing practice, ROI seeks to bridge traditional wisdom with practical resources for families in need.
As part of its efforts to bring attention to this crisis, ROI will host its 3rd Annual Event on November 13–14 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The two-day gathering will bring together survivors, advocates, and experts from across the Southeast to raise awareness of domestic violence, highlight the MMIW crisis, and honor those working to create safer communities.
Advocates stress that awareness is only the first step. Lasting changes will require investment in tribal-led services, improved data collection, and collaboration among tribal, state, and federal agencies. Above all, it requires listening to and believing survivors.
“Protecting our women means protecting our future,” said DeMakus Staton, ROI Executive Director, “When we come together as a community, we can end the violence that has touched far too many Cherokee families.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National DV Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. To learn more or register for ROI’s November event, visit roinspiration.org.
