The Shawnee Tribe’s Behavioral Health Program is providing information in January for Stalking Awareness Month. Stalking is a serious and often misunderstood form of victimization. It involves a pattern of behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or experience significant emotional distress. Stalking is not rare, and it is not harmless. Most victims know the person who is stalking them, and many experience threats, fear, and long-lasting impacts on their daily lives.
Research shows that stalking disproportionately affects American Indian and Alaska Native communities, with a significant percentage of women and men experiencing stalking at some point in their lives. Common stalking behaviors include monitoring, repeated unwanted contact, intimidation, and interference in a person’s work, relationships, or sense of safety. These behaviors often escalate over time rather than stop on their own.
In recognition of Stalking Awareness Month, community members are invited to participate in the Ribbons of Resilience Awareness Walk:
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, help is available. Take the behavior seriously, trust your instincts, and prioritize safety. Consider limiting what you share online, documenting incidents in a stalking log, reaching out to trusted supports, and contacting law enforcement if you are in immediate danger. No one deserves to live in fear, and support resources exist to help individuals regain safety and control. If you feel like you are being staked and could be in danger, call your local law enforcement or 911.
Tire recycling (or rubber recycling) is the process of collecting worn-out tires and reprocessing them into useful materials instead of letting them take up space in landfills. Because tires are durable and don’t break down easily, recycling them protects the environment, reduces fire risks, and eliminates potential mosquito-breeding sites in improperly disposed tire piles. Common […]
For many people, the holiday season brings connection, celebration, and routine changes. But for survivors of domestic violence or past trauma, this time of year can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. Increased stress, family expectations, and sensory triggers can intensify anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD. Holiday environments can activate the brain’s trauma pathways. Sensory […]
Common E-Waste Items: Why does it matter? Key Facts: Sources: World Health Organization
On Saturday, September 20, during the Annual Meeting of the Tribal Council, former Shawnee Chief Ron Sparkman gave a history and retrospective. In 2019, the Business Council gave Sparkman the title of Ambassador to the Shawnee Tribe. He served as Chief from 2001 to 2019. “We have come a long, long way,” said Ambassador Sparkman. […]
WHY SHOULD I RECYCLE? HOW DO I RECYCLE? Sources: earth911.com
by A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack The original mouth of the Scioto River, in what is now southern Ohio, is far from Oklahoma. So far, perhaps, it has been forgotten. But important events in Shawnee history—in the mid-1700s and thousands of years earlier—took place there. Two painted panels on Portsmouth, Ohio’s floodwall highlight its […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MIAMI, OK — The Shawnee Tribe has declared a state of emergency and released emergency funds to assist citizens who may lose access to food assistance following the federal government’s suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the Tribe on October 22 that SNAP operations will […]
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