Introduction For the purposes of this assignment, I have chosen to analyze the overwhelming prevalence of sexual violence against Native American women. To create a solution to the problem, every aspect of the issue must be addressed and analyzed. To stay within the bounds of this article, I will touch on various aspects of sexual violence within the tribal community to give a general understanding of what is at hand, as well as to facilitate critical and solution-focused thinking. Without a holistic understanding, we cannot conjure, much less implement, effective change in tribal communities, law enforcement, or federal institutions. Native Americans have suffered a horrific past of genocide, discrimination, forced acculturation, miscommunication, and misunderstanding. They were often dehumanized and deprived of basic human rights. Treated as “savages,” they were herded into confinement areas and robbed of their language, culture and way of life. In many genocide cases, experts have noted a type of historical trauma that can be passed down through families, known as generational trauma. Although the potential effects of this concept are unproven, the stories, images, and memories of thousands of Native Americans continue to be shared with their children, thus perpetuating and never forgetting the pain and embarrassment their people experienced . Today, Native American American women continue to be victimized and remain vulnerable targets within their communities, reservations, tribal law enforcement, and federal law enforcement. To restore peace and justice for Native women, we must first have a critical and substantive discussion about all aspects of sexual violence on r... middle of paper... sex crimes. Furthermore, granting tribes full authority to prosecute any crime can create injustice for accused non-Native individuals, as well as create further complications between tribes (Gede, 2012). The analysis of tribal and federal law is complex, confusing, and does not offer a “all-encompassing” response to the issues at hand. To reiterate my research questions from the beginning, I hope that through discussion and critical thinking we will be able to find practical and reasonable solutions to our problems. “How can we reduce cases of sexual violence and streamline court proceedings, creating a safe and supportive environment for American Indian women?” My question investigates an area that seems lacking in research. What are some of the possible explanations for the high rates of sex crimes on reservations and how can we make changes to lower these rates?