Seven Western Washington tribal nations receive significant funding from DOJ’s Office of Violence Against Women to enhance services for victims of domestic violence

Seattle – Seven western Washington tribal nations are receiving significant funding to enhance services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The grants, from the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) pay for a range of services. For three of the tribes the funding will enhance their efforts to hold non-Indian offenders accountable in tribal court. 

“Native women suffer domestic violence assaults at a disproportionately higher rate than other communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “These grants enhance the efforts of our tribal partners to hold offenders accountable and promote healing for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.”

Three tribes, the Quileute Tribe, the Lummi Nation, and the Tulalip Tribes received grants under the 2024 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program. The program assists tribes in establishing court staff and procedures to prosecute non-Indians for crimes against Indian victims on tribal land. Such crimes include: assault of Tribal justice personnel, child violence, dating violence, domestic violence, obstruction of justice, sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking and violation of a protection order. 

The Quileute Tribe received $1,710,078 for its justice program. The Lummi Nation received $863,977 and the Tulalip Tribes was awarded $1.5 million specifically for their tribal court programs.

In addition to the Tribal Criminal jurisdiction grants, significant funds are supporting services for victims in tribal communities:

The Tulalip Tribes receive two other OVW grants totaling $1.7 million. $500,000 is to enhance investigation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking with additional training and personnel. The additional $1.2 million is to support crisis intervention services, housing, legal services, and therapy for victims of domestic violence.

The Lummi Nation received an additional $800,000 for safety planning and shelter for victims of domestic violence.

The Suquamish Indian Tribe received $1.2 million to provide support for crime victims, housing stability and no cost civil legal services.

The Quinault Indian Nation received $1,199,960 to provide advocacy, shelter, and legal services to victims.

The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe received $900,000 for transitional housing for victims and funding for a special therapy program for youth who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence and sexual assault.

The Skokomish Indian Tribe received $501,601 to increase the capacity of its crisis hotline, safe housing and crisis advocacy and support.