Despite the fact that its store supervisor sexually assaulted a 13-year-old tribal member assigned to Dollar General under a tribal youth opportunity program, Dollar General is now fighting the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ right to protect its own citizens on tribal lands. Shockingly, Dollar General’s attack on tribal sovereignty has made it all the way to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules in Dollar General’s favor, the case could strip Indian Tribes of their inherent authority to protect their citizens on tribal lands from similar assaults.
Call to Action! Make a Quilt Square in Support of Tribal Jurisdiction!
Join us at the Supreme Court on December 7!
On the Sidewalk outside the Supreme Court from 9am – 12pm.
Let us know you will be there! Sign up here!
On December 7, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Dollar General case. The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and the Monument Quilt will join together in front of the Supreme Court carrying quilt squares. “NIWRC and the Monument Quilt will walk in support of safety for Native women and sovereignty of Indian nations,” said Cherrah Giles, Board President, NIWRC. “We ask everyone to join our effort to oppose Dollar General. Non-Indian corporations and sex predators must be held accountable. Race should not be a license to prey on Native women and children.”
Add your statement of support for tribal sovereignty or your own story of surviving sexual assault as a Native American to the growing Monument Quilt. Learn how to make a quilt square here: themonumentquilt.org/make-a-quilt-square.
Mail your quilt square by December 1, 2015, to:
FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture, Shame on Dollar General Campaign
2315 Homewood Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218
Following the sexual assault of a 13-year-old in a youth opportunity program at Dollar General by his supervisor, his parents brought an action against Dollar General in Tribal Court, seeking monetary compensation for pain and suffering to cover the youth’s medical and trauma recovery expenses. In all of the courts below, Dollar General argued that the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Tribal Court could not exercise jurisdiction over Dollar General because Dollar General is a non-Indian.
Dollar General’s argues it is unconstitutional for Tribes to exercise any kind of jurisdiction over non-Indians because Tribal Courts are unsophisticated, biased, and simply not capable of fairly rendering justice. Tribal Courts are not inferior. Indians, just like non-Indians, are fully capable of fairly rendering justice and holding perpetrators of violence accountable in their communities in a way that is just, respectful, and appropriate.
Native women are sexually assaulted 2.5 times more than any other group in the United States. 88% of perpetrators of violence against Native women are non-Native.
If the Supreme Court accepts Dollar General’s argument, Indian Nations would be prohibited from exercising their inherent civil jurisdiction over the majority of assaults committed against their citizens.