Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Maine tribes will receive a total of $2,074,901 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women to fund victim assistance programs and to help compensate Native American victims for crime-related losses.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault receive the resources they need for their safety, wellbeing and recovery,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This important investment will provide greater access to necessary services for Native American victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, who are disproportionately affected by these crimes.  In addition, this funding will help Maine Tribes to strengthen their response to these crimes and protect vulnerable members of their communities.”

The funding was allocated as follows:

• Mi'kmaq Nation received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.

• The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians received $408,408 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.

• The Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.

• Penobscot Nation received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions and $100,000 to expand Back to Traditional Values.  The goal of this youth program is to provide purpose and meaning for Penobscot youth by building a learning community grounded in cultural traditions, environmental stewardship, and creative expression that fosters mentorship, peer-to-peer support, intergenerational exchange, and leadership that results in better decision making, pro-social behavior, and an improved quality of life.

• Wabanaki Women’s Coalition received $355,755 through the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program. This program builds the capacity of nonprofit, nongovernmental tribal coalitions to end domestic and sexual violence in Native American communities.