Human trafficking constitutes a significant challenge within Native American communities. Research conducted by Nikkel and Parker in 2022 revealed that a noteworthy 40% of Native American or First Nation women have been identified as survivors of sex trafficking. This finding underscores the pressing need for targeted interventions to address this specific issue within these communities.
Human trafficking is a crime that involves the use of force, coercion, or fraud to obtain labor or sexual services. There are various methods that traffickers use to traffic people, including manipulation, threats, or offering opportunities to earn money. Many Native American individuals are trafficked within the United States and abroad, including in Canada. The risk factors of trafficking victims in Native American communities include prior sexual victimization, poverty, and homelessness (U.S. Department of Justice, pg. 4, 2017). There are other risk factors, such as weakened family and friend structure, substance abuse, or educational disadvantages.
Human trafficking within Native American communities remains a significantly underreported concern. The lack of resources and initiatives aimed at addressing this issue has resulted in sustained challenges within these communities. This issue is particularly grave for Indigenous people, who face an elevated risk of being trafficked due to historical mistreatment and racism (U.S. Department of Justice, para. 2, 2024).
Native American communities play a vital role in addressing human trafficking issues. It is crucial for Native American communities to host workshops that educate and empower community members to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking. Additionally, creating targeted campaigns can effectively inform community communities about the dangers and warning signs of human trafficking. By coordinating these efforts, community leaders can enhance awareness and mobilize support to combat human trafficking within Native American communities.
Employing all available resources to combat human trafficking is imperative. It is essential to bolster tribal policies aimed at the prevention of human trafficking and the provision of support for its victims. The implementation of community-based initiatives can significantly contribute to the prevention of human trafficking. The provision of education and economic opportunities for tribal members can mitigate their susceptibility to trafficking. Furthermore, offering services to aid tribal members who have been trafficked or who exhibit vulnerabilities that may predispose them to victimization represents another pivotal approach to combating human trafficking.
To combat human trafficking, it is imperative to establish collaborative partnerships with law enforcement and tribal authorities to address instances of human trafficking within Native American communities proactively. This necessitates the development of comprehensive protocols for handling human trafficking cases and accurately identifying victims. Providing victim-specific services, including legal support and other vital resources aimed at aiding human trafficking survivors, is of paramount importance. Recognizing the gravity of human trafficking, tribal authorities within Native American communities, along with federal authorities, have underscored the urgency of implementing trafficking statutes within their communities. Furthermore, it is crucial to deliver culturally sensitive victim assistance and to train law enforcement and other pertinent professionals on identifying and responding to victims (U.S. Department of Justice, pg. 1, 2017).
References:
Blue Campaign. (n.d.). What is Human Trafficking? https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking
Nikkel, M., & Parker, L. (2022). Human Trafficking in Native American Communities. The Exodus Road. https://theexodusroad.com/human-trafficking-in-native-american-communities/
U.S. Department of Justice. (2024). Who is the most vulnerable to human trafficking? https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/04- 2024/human_trafficking.html#:~:text=Indigenous%20people%2C%20including%20Ame rican% 20Indians,mistreatment%20of%20these%20marginalized%20communities.
U.S. Department of Justice. (2017). Human Trafficking (Including Sex Trafficking) of American Indians and Alaska Natives. https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/998081/dl#:~:text=Many%20have%20pointed%20 to%20the,that%20the%20problem%20is%20significant.
