Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Bob Kelleher
Duluth, Minn.

Study: Sexual assault against Native American women often overlooked

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

A three-year Duluth study finds Native American women, victimized by sexual assault, tend to get lost and overlooked in the legal system.

A coalition of victim advocacy groups and public safety agencies undertook the study. They wanted to address problems related to high rates of sexual assault among Native American women. Forty-one victims took part in focus groups, and none of their cases resulted in prosecutions.

Rebecca St. George, with the group Mending the Sacred Hoop, said the women felt investigators didn't believe them.

"Pretty much all of them felt that they hadn't been believed," St. George said. "We certainly saw parallels in the police reports that we read; sort of a general 'not sure if this is what really happened.'"

The study also documented poor follow-up with sexual assault victims; and a failure to ensure the safety of victims.

Deputy Chief John Beyer said Duluth Police are tightening case assignment tracking and improving efforts to keep all assault victims better informed.