Tunica-Funded Film ‘Wind River’ Screened at D.C. Talk Addressing Issues of Violence
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Marksville, La. – (Feb. 22, 2018) – Recently, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Corporation served as partners of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center’s event titled “Understanding the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Native Women” which took place at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. The event was held to raise awareness of the crisis of missing and murdered native women and girls.
With the Violence Against Women Act set to expire in 2018 and native women experiencing violence at astronomical rates, the NIWRC and partners were approached by Congresswoman Norma Torres’ office to host a reception, briefing and educational showing of the film “Wind River.” The film highlights issues of violence toward native women and is the latest project of Acacia Entertainment, a finance and production company that is a joint venture between the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Economic Development Corporation, a wholly owned entity of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Savvy Media Holdings.
The event itself was well attended by hill staffers, tribal leaders and advocates from across the country all of whom are actively engaged in addressing the issue of violence against native women.
Additional partners included the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Gaming Association, the Indian Law Resource Center, the StrongHearts Native Helpline, the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
Through the success of the event, the NIWRC and partners hope to mobilize grassroots tribal advocates, tribal leaders, Members of Congress and staffers towards drafting and implementing legislation that addresses the full breadth of violence against native women and that Congress would find a way to end impunity for non-Native men who abuse native women on tribal lands. Tribes, as sovereigns, are in the best position to care for their people; this care must include the ability to prosecute non-natives for violence committed on tribal land. For more information and an in-depth overview of these issues visit, www.niwrc.org.
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About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe
The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near Marksville, where they were skilled traders and entrepreneurs. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,200 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas and Illinois.
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe received federal recognition in 1981 for its reservation within the boundaries of Louisiana. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. Through its compact, negotiated by the late Tribal Chairman Earl J. Barbry Sr. and the State of Louisiana, the Tribe has assisted local governments in the area with its quarterly distribution of funds, totaling more than $40 million over two decades. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit www.tunica.org and “like” us on Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dominique Ellis
(504) 250-0030
dellis@theehrhardtgroup.com