April 24, 2012 –
MAYETTA: The Family Violence Prevention Program will sponsor a Take Back the Night walk this evening at Prairie Peoples Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. to promote Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The walk will begin at 7 p.m. and will go from the park to L Road (Buffalo Drive) and then return back to the park. Walkers are urged to join along the trail (which is now all paved) to be a part of the movement. Those that register beginning at 6:30 p.m. will be given a t-shirt and flashlight (while they last).
Statistics show that one in three Native women will be raped in their lifetime and that 70 percent of all sexual assaults are not reported. Women are most often raped between the ages of 16 and 24 years and American Indians are twice as likely to experience a rape/sexual assault compared to all races.
This week is also National Crime Victims Week sponsored by the FVPP and the Tribal Victims Assistance program and the two groups are sending materials to the PBPN community through an email promotional campaign.
The Family Violence Prevention Program is located in the Health Center and serves enrolled members of federally recognized tribes who are victims of family violence or sexual assault. The Tribal Victims Assistance Program is housed in the Tribal Police Department. For more information call 785.966.8343 or 785.966.3024.