AWARD RECIPIENT:
Cangleska, Inc.
Kyle, SD

AWARD AMOUNT: $314,796

DURATION: 18 months

PURPOSE: Cangleska, Inc. is a nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services agency serving Oglala Lakota women on the Pine Ridge reservation. Cangleska has partnered with the Oglala Police Department, the Oglala Housing Department, the Oglala Tribal Court, the Oglala Tribal Prosecutor's Office, and the Judiciary Committee to create a coordinated community response to violent crimes against women. The Domestic Violence Victims' Civil Legal Assistance (CLA) project, supported for the second year in FY 2000, provides free civil legal representation to battered women. Prior to the CLA project, the only legal services corporation serving the area often had to turn women away. With FY 2000 support, Cangleska will continue and expand its FY 1998 project, including:

• providing civil legal assistance services to battered women through the Stronghold Civil Legal Office, which serves the nine districts on the Pine Ridge Reservation and is located in the town of Pine Ridge;

• supporting two project attorneys, a legal advocate, and an office assistant;

• informing the community of services and battered women's rights; and

• training legal advocates on the project's forms and protocol, the interpersonal aspects of serving battered women, and the tribal court system, including full faith and credit issues.

AWARD RECIPIENT:
White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc.
Mission, SD

AWARD AMOUNT: $178,190

DURATION: 18 months

PURPOSE: White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc., (WBCWS), is a private, grassroots organization whose main function is providing shelter and services to women and children victimized by domestic violence. WBCWS operates the oldest shelter on an Indian Reservation in the United States and is the first women of color shelter in the nation. WBCWS' services include a 24 hour crisis line, support groups and individual support, and victim advocacy.

With this initial Domestic Violence Victims' Civil Legal Assistance Grant Program award, WBCWS will establish a pool of attorneys to provide victims of domestic violence with legal representation in the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court and the surrounding state courts. WBCWS will recruit several attorneys to represent victims of domestic violence in civil proceedings to obtain and/or enforce protection and restraining orders, child custody, child support, divorce, and other civil matters. The attorneys will receive training on the dynamics of domestic violence and its impact on divorce and custody issues, civil legal assistance policies and protocols, domestic violence screening, and safety issues and planning. WBCWS also will develop a training program and legal advocacy manual for participating attorneys and legal advocates to enhance project activities and sustain project activities in the future. The project's activities will be coordinated with legal advocates, shelter advocates, and shelter services to ensure victim safety.

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
FY 1998 Civil Legal Assistance Grants
South Dakota

AWARD RECIPIENT:
Cangleska, Inc.
Kyle, South Dakota

AWARD AMOUNT: $264,412*

PURPOSE: Cangleska, Inc., the domestic violence victims' advocacy organization operating on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, will expand civil legal services available to battered Oglala women. Cangleska will establish a civil legal department, which will provide representation and legal advice on remedies available through the tribal court system and other agencies, such as housing, social services, and employment. Educational and information materials will be developed to reach as many women as possible.

LOCAL CONTACT:
Karen Artichoker, Director
Cangleska, Inc.
P.O. Box 638
Kyle, SD 57752
605/455-2244