On August 12, 2007, a unique and meaningful event took place in Custer, South Dakota: a free benefit concert aimed at supporting the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society (WBCWS), a vital organization dedicated to providing shelter and support to Native American women experiencing domestic violence. This concert, a collaborative effort involving faith leaders, tribal officials, and musicians from Michigan and South Dakota, sought to raise awareness and funds to combat the alarming rates of tribal domestic violence, teen suicide, and sexual assault within Native American communities. The Free August 12 Concert to Benefit Native American Battered Women’s Shelter underscored the urgent need for resources and support for vulnerable populations.
The concert was held at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church in Custer, South Dakota, a venue chosen for its commitment to community outreach and its willingness to stand in solidarity with the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society. The event featured performances by two folk groups hailing from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: White Water and Duo Borealis. These musicians, connected by bonds of family and friendship, lent their talents to the cause, hoping to inspire attendees to donate generously to the WBCWS.
The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, the beneficiary of the Free August 12 Concert to Benefit Native American Battered Women’s Shelter, has been a beacon of hope for Native American women and children on the Rosebud Indian Reservation for nearly three decades. Founded in 1980 by Tillie Black Bear, the organization provides a comprehensive range of services, including emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, and re-education programs. The WBCWS’s mission is to create a safe and supportive environment for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, empowering them to heal and rebuild their lives.
The need for such services is tragically evident in the statistics surrounding violence against Native Americans. The Rosebud Tribal Police Department reported eleven rapes on the Rosebud Reservation alone in 2006, with at least ten more reported through May 31, 2007. The U.S. Department of Justice has found that American Indians are victims of sexual assault at 3.5 times the rate of other United States residents, and the rate of all violent crime against Native American women is a staggering 50 times higher than other races. Moreover, approximately 90 percent of American Indian sexual assault victims report an offender of a different race, and nearly a third of all American Indian victims are between the ages of 18 and 24.
These statistics paint a grim picture, but they only represent the reported cases. Experts believe that many instances of sexual assault within Native American communities go unreported due to factors such as family reprisal, shame, cultural oppression, and a lack of trust in the legal system. The overlapping and often confusing federal, state, and tribal legal jurisdictions can hinder investigations and prosecutions, leaving victims feeling helpless and fearful. This complex web of legal issues further discourages Native American women from reporting sexual violence, creating a cycle of silence and impunity.
Tillie Black Bear, the director of the WBCWS, emphasizes the importance of providing education and resources to youth to teach them that violence and sexual assault are never acceptable. She believes that by empowering young people with knowledge and support, they can break the cycle of violence and create a safer future for themselves and their communities. Black Bear also acknowledges the confusion that some youth experience regarding "the romantic notion of love," which can prevent them from reporting date rape and other assault incidents. The Free August 12 Concert to Benefit Native American Battered Women’s Shelter was a step to raise awareness.
The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society addresses domestic violence in three key areas:
- Safety: Ensuring the immediate safety of victims is the organization’s top priority. This includes providing emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and safety planning.
- Healing: The WBCWS offers counseling, support groups, and other therapeutic services to help victims heal from the trauma of abuse.
- Prevention: The organization works to prevent future violence through education, advocacy, and community outreach.
Black Bear stresses that safety is paramount in all the WBCWS’s efforts. She notes that when safety is unattainable, women and children experience trauma that can ultimately lead to untimely death. She believes that tribal and community leaders must stand firmly against the abuse of women and children, making clear and strong public statements denouncing such violence. She emphasizes that even when victims believe they have found safety, there is never any guarantee that they are safe from domestic violence and sexual assault.
Tragically, abusers often become homicidal when victims leave their clutches. Black Bear points out that women leaving their abusers are at a greater risk of being murdered. She stresses the need for safe places to keep women and children out of harm’s way, as their own homes and the homes of relatives may not be safe options.
Black Bear believes that Indigenous people understand the interconnectedness of all things and that all individuals within a community are responsible for providing safety to women and children and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. She notes that domestic violence murders claim many more lives than the immediate victim because when a child or woman is killed, it affects generations to come.
She urges Native Americans to reframe their views of their female relatives and to believe that women and children are sacred. She emphasizes that creating a world where future generations will want to come and be safe is a shared responsibility.
The Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church, the host of the Free August 12 Concert to Benefit Native American Battered Women’s Shelter, has a long history of supporting efforts to combat domestic violence. The church has previously supported the Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE) domestic violence shelter in Custer and projects on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Rev. Dave Van Kley, the pastor of Custer Lutheran Fellowship, explained that his church believes that God calls them to be in relationship with all people. He noted that while the church and the WBCWS are located in different parts of South Dakota, they share common issues, including ending domestic violence and helping victims.
The concert was the brainchild of Rev. Lynn Hubbard, a friend of both the church and the WBCWS, who had recently moved to northern Michigan. He asked the Michigan music groups, White Water and Duo Borealis, to perform a free concert in Custer while they were returning from a tour of the western U.S.
Rev. Hubbard expressed his admiration for the work of the WBCWS and his concern that women around the world continue to be beaten and murdered every day. He described domestic violence as "literally America’s black eye," noting that the abuse is prevalent in all segments of society and crosses all lines – social, economic, race, and creed.
Rev. Hubbard’s Turtle Island Project recognized the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society and its domestic violence shelter for 30 years of excellent community service. He expressed his gratitude to the Michigan musicians for their willingness to put on the free concert, hoping that the community would help support the WBCWS shelter.
Rev. Van Kley echoed Hubbard’s sentiments, expressing his church’s appreciation for the folk bands’ willingness to help people they had never met. He noted that folk music is the music of all people and an excellent choice for a fundraising effort for the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society.
The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society provides a range of services to domestic violence victims, including emergency shelter and weekly support groups. These groups include a Women’s Support Group, meetings for sexual assault survivors, and a Men’s Re-Education Group.
The Free August 12 Concert to Benefit Native American Battered Women’s Shelter was a testament to the power of community collaboration in addressing a critical social issue. The event brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to ending violence against Native American women and children. While the concert was a single event, its impact reverberated far beyond the walls of the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church, raising awareness, generating support, and inspiring hope for a future free from violence. The tireless work of organizations like the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society is crucial in providing safety, healing, and prevention services to those in need, and events like this concert play a vital role in supporting their mission.