Check out our Healing Center

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Check out our Healing Center ·

An illustration that is the Kinship Heals logo, with a perspective from behind three women with their arms around each other, facing a sunrise over water. One is raising a feather. The image is framed by a wreath of leaves and flowers.

The Northeast Native Network
of Kinship and Healing

Creating spaces that are free from violence for Native people

Illustration of Weetamo, a Wampanoag Saunkskwa, which means female leader,. She is wearing a fur-trimmed tan garment, a beaded choker, and a shell necklace, with a feather in her hair and hoop earrings.

Welcome and waneekesuq.

WE WILL JOURNEY TOGETHER.

There was a time when a group within our Wampanoag community was struggling. For months, I spent the majority of my days accompanying our people at various health providers.

It was the hardest time of my life. Nothing that I had ever experienced—including abuse and domestic violence—even came close to the pain of watching the suffering of the people I loved, had known since their births, and had helped to raise ...

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Kinship Heals.

OUR CREATION STORY.

More than 12,000 years ago when magic was still in the lands, there was a man named Moshup who could turn himself into a giant. He is well known among the Algonquin tribes of the Northeast, and there are stories of him all along the coast. 

Moshup had a life partner, what some today might describe as a wife, named Squant. 

Each powerful in their own ways, Moshup and Squant complemented each other and were in balance ...

Learn more
Illustration from the Wampanoag creation story, depicting Moshup wading into a sunset sea among whales, while Squant and others watch from the cliffs of Aquinnah.

 Challenges

39%
80%

American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence by an intimate partner

Of the time these acts of violence are committed by non-native perpetrators

SHELTERS IN
THE U.S.

SHELTERS IN
MASSACHUSETTS

58
0

Native American domestic violence shelters in the U.S. to service 574 tribes

Native American domestic violence/sexual assault shelters in Massachusetts

NIGHTS
OF STAY

UNMET
NEEDS

2
33%

Nights is the average length of stay for Native women in a non-native shelter

Native women victims report unmet needs at non-native service providers

SEXUAL
VIOLENCE

VIOLENCE IN
LIFETIME

56%
85%

Native American women experience
sexual violence

Native American women experience violence in their lifetime

BY NON-NATIVE
PERPETRATORS

BY AN INTIMATE
PARTNER

  • Digital painting of a sunset over water, with orange, pink, purple, and blue hues, and reflections of the sun on the surface.

    First Light

    Wampanoag people in the Northeast are known as the People of the First Light. Prior to colonization, domestic violence and sexual assault were not present in Native communities, as they are in today’s society.

  • Digital painting of an arched tunnel under construction with wooden supports and yellow reinforcement lines, illuminated from the opening at the end.

    Inside the wetu

    We are a matrilineal tribe, where women raise their families among their female relatives, and the decisions of home life are under their authority. Today, Native women experience domestic violence and sexual assault at higher rates than any other race.

  • A digital illustration of a traditional round hut, situated on grassy terrain under a partly cloudy sky.

    Outside the wetu

    Nationwide, there are only 58 Native shelters to service 574 tribes, and none are located in Massachusetts. Studies show that culturally specific services are the most effective in supporting survivors.

  • Illustration of a woman standing on a city sidewalk near crosswalks and street signs, wearing a purple coat and patterned rain boots.

    Urban areas

    While there are two federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts with tribal housing, the majority of their tribal membership live off-reservation and in urban areas. Native people are only 1% of the state’s population, which may seem like a small number, but it represents more than 35,000 people.

  • Two books on a yellow surface, one titled 'A Practical Guide to the Indian Child Welfare' and the other 'Introduction to Tribal Legal Studies,' with a spiral-bound notebook underneath.

    Specialized support

    Our approach will be to partner with existing non-Native domestic violence / sexual assault programs and supplement their services with our culturally specific services and expertise.

  • A digital painting of a coastal landscape, featuring green and brown cliffs overlooking the ocean, with distant mountains on the horizon and a partly cloudy sky.

    Martha’s Vineyard

    The island is a vacation destination and home to many rich and famous. There is a huge wealth disparity between the indigenous population and the elite who use the island for vacations and second homes (60+% of the housing stock). Landlords also cash in on vacation rentals rather than contributing to residential housing stock. This has led to the current housing crisis the island is experiencing.

  • A young girl in a purple jacket and green pants peeks out from behind a yellow door frame in a dimly lit room with brick walls.

    We need safe spaces to heal

    In addition to the housing crisis there are no shelters on Martha’s Vineyard. Finding housing is nearly impossible for people trying to leave their abusers, especially when children are involved.

  • Two women standing indoors, one smiling and gesturing with her hands, the other holding a yellow ball and a measuring tape, both dressed casually.

    You can help

    In addition to tradition crisis interventions, it is our vision to provide non-timed safe housing with wrap around supportive services to aid in the healing process, which will increase survivors’ success in achieving housing stability, economic security, and freedom from abuse. With your help and support we can build safe spaces for native people to heal, connect, and thrive as our ancestors have done before us.

 Our services

Illustration of a beige fingerprint on a dark green circular background.

STAR

Short term shelter, Transitional
Assistance, and Relocation

We will create safe spaces for our people.

Two hands cupping steam rising from a hot thermal spring or hot beverage, with small dots around indicating heat or steam.

CARE

Ceremony, Advocacy,
Resources, Referrals and Experience

We will inform and explain all options and support people in their choices.

Stylized beige pine branch on a dark green circular background

FEAST

Food Equity and
Sovereignty Traditions

Caring for one another, we will provide a stable source for food, increase access to Indigenous foods, and grow Three Sisters Gardens to build health and strengthen relationships.

A beige heart outline decorated with small dots and lines inside a dark green circular background.

PEACE

Prevention, Education,
Awareness, and Community Engagement

We will use our culture to teach and create safe and healthy communities.

Three stylized arrows pointing diagonally upward, with dotted lines around them, on a dark green background.

SUN RISE

Services for Urban Natives that Respect Indigenous Sovereignty and Experiences

We will create allyships with non-native entities and build relationships with tribes and Native organizations to respond to the gaps in culturally relevant services.

Abstract graphic design with curved lines and small dots in beige on a dark green background.

COAST

The Circle of Allies and
Sovereign Tribes 

We will rebuild the bonds of kinship we had with other tribes and create allyships with non-native entities to address domestic violence and sexual assault together.

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Our Team

  • An illustration of Bettina Washington, board member and cultural expert.

    Bettina Washington

  • An illustration of Katrina Araujo, board treasurer.

    Katrina Araujo

  • An illustration of Hallie Bongar White, board member.

    Hallie Bongar

  • An illustration of Jennifer Randolph, executive director and board president.

    Jennifer Randolph

  • An illustration of Elizabeth Kaeka, board-vice president.

    Beth Kaeka

  • An illustration of Nefititi Jette, board clerk.

    Nefititi Jette

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