A group of about 50 people came out Thursday, Oct. 24, for Maliseet Advocacy Center’s 27th candlelight vigil. The event is held annually to raise awareness for victims of domestic and sexual violence. (Courtesy of HBMI)

HOULTON, Maine — Domestic and sexual violence affects people from all walks of life, including the tribal citizens of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.

The abuse can be emotional or financial, leaving the person feeling trapped with nowhere to go. Four out of five Native American women experience violence in their lifetime, according to a report by the National Congress of American Indians.

Fortunately, there are services that help those in need.

The Maliseet Advocacy Center is available to anyone affected by domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, stalking and sex trafficking. The program provides support, assistance and information about options available to both native and non-native people.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Maliseet Advocacy Center held the tribe’s 27th annual candlelight vigil on Oct. 24 to provide support and raise awareness for the cause. About 50 people turned out for this year’s vigil, which included ceremonial tribal drumming by the Four Winds drum group; lighting candles in memory or honoring the victims; and a community table.

Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis welcomed those in attendance and urged a call for unity to support those affected by domestic violence.

“Tonight’s ceremony is something special that we all hold dear (to our hearts),” said Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis. “It’s important for communities to come together in embracing our culture and this (ceremony) is a way we can all help heal together. It’s a way to celebrate and support our survivors, but more importantly, it’s a way to honor those we’ve lost to domestic violence.”

Sabattis said the rate of domestic violence, for both women and men, was significantly higher for Native Americans compared to the general population. More than 83% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetimeaccording to the National Institute of Justice.

“Ninety-six percent of our Indigenous survivors have experienced sexual violence at the hands of a non-Native man,” she added. “Furthermore, Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average.”

Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca again served as the guest speaker for Thursday’s event.

“The Houlton Police Department takes domestic violence and sexual assault crimes seriously with our response,” DeLuca said. “However, a reactive response is not enough. As I like to say, reactive is late and proactive is early, and domestic violence is no exception.”

He said the crimes usually happen in a person’s home, with the victim feeling trapped and helpless with little or no support.

Cathy St. John, program director for the Maliseet Advocacy Center, organized a shawl ceremony to remind them why they gather. The shawls serve as a reminder to ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking, and murdered or missing Indigenous relatives.

The purple shawl represents victims and survivors of domestic violence; the red shawl represents missing and murdered indigenous relatives; the teal shawl represents victims and survivors of sexual assault; the rainbow scarf represents LBGTQ and two-spirit relatives who often face violence and stigma; the white shawl represents child survivors and victims; and finally the orange shawl honors residential school survivors and those who didn’t make it home through the foster care program.

The Maliseet program provides unconditional/confidential support; crisis intervention; safety planning; emergency shelter and related assistance; a support group; hospital accompaniment; advocacy in court; assistance in filing protection-from-abuse orders; assistance in filing for divorce and parental rights/custody; legal assistance; information and recommendations; and education and training.

The Maliseet Advocacy Center’s mission is to bring about change within the tribal community, where equality, respect and nonviolence become the cornerstones of all relationships.

The center has a 24-hour anonymous crisis line at 207-532-6401 to provide support to any tribal member experiencing abuse.