Rally Together Against Human Trafficking

Native Americans Are Being Trafficked

Our Sisters Are Not for Sale

The devastating truth is that Native Americans are at higher risk of being trafficked than any other racial group. In fact, 40% of sex trafficking victims in South Dakota are Native women and girls, while only 9% of South Dakota's residents are Native American.

Traffickers seek out vulnerable individuals. Vulnerability comes in many forms: age, poverty, homelessness, domestic and sexual violence, high rates of adverse childhood experiences, substance abuse, and lack of resources and/or support systems.

These factors put Native Americans at high risk as traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities. They recruit and groom individuals, offering them necessities such as food and shelter or providing for their substance addictions, as long as they do a few “favors” in return.  This is the reality that many Native Americans face in the United States, and yet their stories are frequently under-reported or not shared at all.

Additionally, several of these trafficking factors appear to correlate with the MMIP epidemic.

When public events are held that draw large crowds of men — demand for sex trafficking skyrockets. Annually, in South Dakota, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August) and Pheasant Hunting Season (October) create the ideal environment for hotbeds of sex trafficking. 

But NO MORE. Native Hope is determined to #ENDIT. 

We're Taking Action

We're Committed to End It

CHANGE BEGINS WITH ONE

So the question arises: what can we do about it?

When such a profound issue exists, it's easy to become overwhelmed, asking, "How can I help? What can I do that could make a difference in such an immense problem?"

The answer is simple. It starts with one. One person taking a stand, inviting others to join them in the fight. We can no longer sit back and say, "It's not our problem; there's nothing we can do about it." It is our problem.

Our goal is simple: zero trafficking victims during the Sturgis Rally.

Every year, we circulate informational posters within South Dakota communities and online with signs to look for and hotlines to call. At Sturgis, we walk the streets to arm thousands of people with the knowledge of how they can take action to stop traffickers and help bring them to justice.

Together, we can be a powerful force in raising awareness and bringing an end to this dark industry.

Let’s Rally Together to prevent sex trafficking!