Mariana's "Rape on the Reservation" Live Tweets

Mariana - you did a great job on the documentary of "Rapeon the Reservation". This happens all the time throughout Indian Country. The sad thing is that the people always know the perpetrator, but are scared of retaliation. Many reservations have large families and this can affect your well-being in many ways (housing, jobs, intimidation, threats, etc.). Continue to great work and I am so glad that you opened this issue to the world, because rape happens everywhere.

I am a Native Woman of the Northwest. What would our ancestors think of this behavior??? This is NOT our way. My parents taught me that Women are sacred life givers and Indian men used to Give them Respect for their sacrifice they gave during the life giving process. Our traditions need to be brought back in to prospective and lived daily. This behavior reminds me of how the Non-Natives would treat our Women when they would come and burn our villages and massacre our Tribes. We are Native, Strong People that can overcome this. Let's Do It!!!

and speaking of "crabs in a bucket"
...other natives would be untrusting of their own, if this was an all native film crew, would the documentary still be received the same?? Or would nonnatives pass it off as "radical"??

just some food for thought...

Lonea, I feel that nonnatives shouldn't be making THESE documentaries about US. I think WE as Native (Lakota) people should empower ourselves to get these stories told in our OWN, productive way. I really do feel that this film could be used against Native people, it IS perpetuating a stereotype.
I grew up on the Rez, never had hickies, I do not have children and have been able to get an education, stay clean and try to be a positive individual. However, after watching this "documentary" I was left with a sense of hopelessness... it made me feel like all the education I am getting, all the positive choices I have made MEAN SH*T!
Please do not judge me for being angry at these filmmakers, but I am tired of nonnatives feeling the need to "SAVE US."
If we continue to rely on OTHERS to tell those (and OUR) stories, we will continue this cycle of hand-outs and blaming others.
To me, if these filmmakers wanted to see a documentary about rape on the Reservation why not give the young people the opportunity to learn the equipment, to learn how to edit, or film the documentary themselves or the same for the family that lost a loved one or the victims? WHERE is this relationship the filmmakers created going? Will there be continual support... Will the documentarian's take responsibility when those boys are high-fiving after the next rape?
...that is why I called it a drive by documentary.
And yes, I understand the narrator wants to help burn down abandon houses... but how about finding money to give to recovery centers or start some type of film/TV training or empowerment?

I support the truth being told, but I struggle with exploitation by a "no lies" TV station who is trying to get their next award...

And I say genocide because we need to all have a moment of DECOLONIZATION and then take the path to liberation. We are apart of this USA, country now, there is no going back pre-contact... and we need to realize how to bring our virtues, ideals into the 21st century.

I am tired of feeling helpless while OTHERS make us into "poor pitiful indians."

Empower yourself to step away from letting nonnatives tell your story.

The woman expressing her feelings about the film makers making a stereotype must have her head in the sand. Keeping the sexual abuse perpetrated by men AND women on the reservation a secret that is being perpetuated by everyone is uncaring.
The suicide, alcohol abuse, and more problems are higher on the reservation than elsewhere and the IHS and other honest entities on the reservation document these horrors. Families openly talk about their issues with professionals on the reservation. A well known medicine man is being given a grant for help with sexual abuse and teen suicide. It's really sad how some quickly jump to putting down a team of young people that put themselves out to try and portray the horrendous state of affairs because of the historical distrust and their own personal issues that they have not dealt with. It's time for each person on the reservation to look within themselves first before any changes can be made. Blaming and falling back on the reality of genecide is only going to keep us stuck. As a professional Lakota woman myself I realize the desperation and how easy it is too blame others or historical factors. There is no excuse for a pregnant woman to drink alcohol, there is no excuse for a man to "beat" his sons to make them stronger, there is no excuse for young children to be sporting hickies, there is no excuse for one family to attack another family because they reported an offense. The reason some people react strongly to a stereotype is because it is based on a truth. If you are accused of being a drunk and you aren't a drunk the comment doesn't bother you. People do not spend money and time on documentarys for no reason. Unfortunately this documentary didn't go far enough and there is a hell of a lot more to be discussed before there is any change. It's time to get out of the Lakota Crab bucket and start living instead of surviving. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your kids.

Such a heart wrenching documentary.

I have to admit that I did not finish watching this episode...or have I watched any others.

But this episode suggested by a friend and as I watch MY COMMUNITY being RAPED by a film crew... I was exasperated! This drive by reporting is a poor excuse for a "documentary."

Have any of these filmmakers read ANY texts on decolonizing methodologies?

Have any of these filmmakers done ANY research regarding conditions pre-contact or even pre-reservation?

I, as a, Native WOMAN do not need see another "documentary" perpetuating a stereotype! Even looking at the tags for this blog "violence, rape, child abuse and native american." It breaks my heart that we are STILL being colonized, marginalized and subjected to genocide...now through media...

And, okay, so, this film may have awoken some bleeding heart new ager or some other group of nonnative individuals who will feel a need to (maybe) pour money into something or another that will only treat the symptoms and not the problem.

...what the Rez needs is infrastructure, revitalization, empowerment and liberation... not another FILM showing how devastating the Rez is, how horrible we are and who we (romantically) USED to be...

Thank you Mariana and the rest of the Vanguard team (especially the behind he scenes people!) for another outstanding episode of the best documentary series going.

It was shocking and very hard to watch in places, I hope all the women in this film and all those who have been unable to come forward for fear of the reprisials/lack of action find justice.
It was good to see what appeared to be a well thought out re-abilitation programme, but a tragedy that most offenders are never going to enter into it because of a lack of action by the US gov'.

Donna if you ever read this, I wish you every success in your new life. What happened to you and the treatment you recieved after reporting it makes me ashamed to be called human.

I can't express myself clearly because of the effect this has had on me. Things must change.

This is so tragic .

I was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, I lived there until 1982. I have seen the changes in culture, morals and the many problems that plague the Indian reservations. Everyone blames everyone else for the problems. We are losing our once proud culture and heritege because of our continuous and contagous ability to keep fighting each other over petty issues, jealousy and plain just mean vindictive behavior. Most of this comes directly from the very elected tribal officials we vote into office. Our tribal courts systems are nothing more than a kangaroo court systems. We have IHS hospitals and BIA schools systems in place at most reservations, and many of the staff we hire try to do their jobs to the best of their abilities and sometimes beyond. But if one of these government employees cross another tribal member, the wronged individual in turns go the the council and turns a relatively small disagreement into a huge issue and try to or often times successful in getting that employee removed from their jobs. I ask all Native American people, is this the legacy we what to leave? Certainly not, and we should all be ashamed and all take a serious look at our selves every morning. Think about it..if our children observe this behavior in us how can we expect them to be successful, to carry on our heritage. This program that I just viewed does not surprise me, but it is very disturbing and screams of What the HELL are we doing? I urge each and every Tribal Official, Elders, Teachers, Students, Government Employees, and everyone on the rez to view this documentary and ask ourselves how can I change this. Lets start at the top, lets hold our tribal government and officials accountable. Honor our elders, care for them and treat them with the utmost respect, because if anyone is going to teach us about our culture and heritage they will. Family structure and support is as important to raising a child as water is to human survival, without it we all die. Education is the key to success for any child and that knowledge they obtained will benefit our people, culture, environment and healthcare. But most inmportant lets be united together, lets communicate with each other and treat each other they way we want to be treated with respect and a sence of self worth. Thank You for listening

The world needs to know that Native women in the US are raped at a higher rate than any other population of women and this is because in the past rape of Native women was tolerated. Change is taking place and President Obama has called on the Department of Justice to make rape and violence against Native women a priority. Sooner the better. Thank you Vanguard!

Wow, those nachos sound awesome! What's the difference between those and regular mexican ones? (other than the meat being bison)

I can't wait to see this online.. TWC doesn't give me current on basic cable... =(

I am a resident of Rapid City. Although most people who didn't grow up on the reservation are aware of a lot of the problems that take place on the res, I was absolutely shocked by the level of violence. It's the saturation of acceptance that I find most shocking, though. To hear girls talk about how these gang rapes happen every weekend and that its just a part of life to have a guy abuse you is just flabbergasting. I honestly can't get my head around it. Thank you for bringing this story to light, I am in a unique position to try to help these women. I will do what I can.

As a side note, it does get really, really cold here.

wow..i just got done watching this show..man...unbeleivable!!! i mean i know stuff like that happens...i just didnt know it was that bad...if i lived on that reservation , i would just go burn that house down without telling anybody that it was me that did it...i really feel for martinas family...its sad...so, so sad...

I just finished watching Rape on the Reservation. outstanding job. I thank the women and family that spoke up and shared their stories. I will keep each of you in prayer. I thank White Buffalow Cafe Woman (Tilly & Brenda & all the other sisters). I would like to be able to show this to the Tribal Leadership that will be gathering in two weeks in Rapid City. I am the Juana Majel Dixon, Pauma Tribal Councilwoman 1st Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians. I serve as one of the Co/Chair with Terri Henry, Councilwoman from Eastern Band of Cherkoee, of the Task force to stop violence against Native women. please let us know if we can