"In the Native Spirit and Honor of Women, Children, and Families"


The Urban Indian Advocacy Program is a community-based advocacy program for Indian women and children in Albuquerque.

Mission
To provide safety, advocacy, education, and support for victims of domestic violence in Albuquerque.
To promote the traditional health and well-being of Indian families where women are honored as life-bearers, life-givers, and the heart of the community; where men are honored as protectors and providers; and where children are seen as gifts from the Creator and the future of Indian communities.
Respect is the basis for the foundation of UIAP.  Respect for the culture, tradition, spirituality, belief systems, sexual orientation, and respect for women's autonomy.  UIAP respects the rights of Indian women in making choices and decisions that affect their lives.
To promote social change to eliminate barriers that oppress women and children.

Implementation Plan
Phase I Advocacy Program
             Education, community outreach, training
             Support groups for women and children
             Children's Program
             Food Pantry
             Parenting Program
             Resource Referral
             Emergency Transportation
             Emergency Child Care
             Clothing
             See Our Programs

Phase II Legal Assistance
             Currently offered through UNM School of Law students

Phase III Shelter
             Currently under renovation
                Find out how You Can Help

Phase IV Economic Development Program

Phase V Self Sufficiency


History

The Urban Indian Advocacy Program, originally known as Morning Star House, began as a grassroots initiative supported by a year-long study conducted in 1996 by the UNM Hospital Emergency Medicine Department which determined that a program sensitive to the traditional and cultural needs of American Indians was desperately needed in the city of Albuquerque. This study further indicated that the rate of homicides as a result of Domestic Violence among Indian Women in New Mexico was considerable higher than among other populations in the state. In 2006, Amnesty International reported that Native Women and children were the most abused, most stalked, most raped, and the most murdered of all groups of women in the United States. As you can see, there has not been a big change to these statistics, from state to national.