Native Women Rising: Montana voices Annie Belcourt

We will have special guests speak about their experiences and healing through the arts, culture, language, land, music, spirituality, and story! Join us as we learn together and share our pathways to healing.

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Domestic violence is a serious crime. Previous research and clinical knowledge has provided ample evidence that demonstrates how domestic violence worsens over time and escalates in severity. Simply said if it is not stopped domestic violence can and will escalate to more serious criminal acts including acts of homicide within families. Missing and murdered indigenous women and children are often exposed to domestic or interpersonal familial violence prior to events that lead to their disappearance or death. This has been observed in cases like that of Jermain Charlo, who experienced at least 3 incidents of PFMA (Partner Family Member Assault) by her partner before she disappeared in 2018. It was also true for my younger sister who experiences domestic violence just 8 months before she was killed by a man in Billings. 

Unfortunately, Montana and many states have very minimal legal consequences for these crimes. In many states and communities it is viewed in highly stigmatized ways. This can be very subtle or be expressed very flagrantly. Famously, the late former Governor of Montana Judy Martz told a large audience in Butte, "My husband never battered me, but then again, I've never given him a reason to."

The victim blaming and shaming associated with domestic violence and child abuse are profoundly insidious and a destructive force within many communities. 

In this case example, we see this unfold. Over two years after an assault, Mr. Juneau is emboldened by his successful efforts to avoid prosecution or accountability for assault. He admits under sworn testimony to returning to the survivors' home (my home) with the intention of violating court orders with the intent of committing an additional assault. Mr. Juneau continues to victim blame and avoid accepting any accountability for his criminal actions. This stance and outcome will unfortunately be familiar to those experienced with such PFMA cases in Montana and beyond. 

Mr. Juneau was sentenced to 7 days in jail for his actions. He can also no longer own weapons or firearms. However, as he stated he views it all as just a "sliver in time" and expresses no genuine regret or remorse for the damage he has inflicted in many lives. 

This will wrap up season 1 in this podcast. However, the next season we will shift the focus of Native Women Rising on domains beyond survival and into positive transcendence following trauma. We will examine how research on resilience and cultural factors are helping communities thrive. This will include emerging efforts in art, literature, film, and professional practice aimed at elevating survivor voices and transforming pain into meaning. This will include interviews with scholars, artists, survivors, and community members working to end violence and prevent MMIW cases. 


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This episode includes the conclusion of testimony in the trial of domestic violence/Partner Family Member Assault charges against Edmond Juneau. This includes a rebuttal testimony by the survivor in the case which includes questioning by both the prosecuting and defense attorney. 
Mr. Juneau admitted to causing physical injury, but claims that it was both self-defense and accidental. Neither were true defenses. It is important to note that domestic violence can happen to anyone. The patterns of abuse often reflect attempts to assert power and control over another person. The prosecution clarifies several erroneous statements and assists in clarifying the lack of malicious motive for the survivor in the case. 
Commentary by survivor is provided to help explain the process of serving as a witness in a PFMA case in Montana and the experience of navigating the judicial setting. Challenges are frequently encountered by survivors seeking to comply with PFMA prosecution. There are many factors that can represent a challenge (lack of familiarity in the process, anxiety speaking in public about personal experiences, cultural differences, hypervigilance associated with seeing the abuser in court, and the presence of "flying monkeys" or friends/family who seek to help intimidate the witness and influence the jurors. 
Experiencing cross examination by the defense council can also be very difficult. While some areas are irrelevant to the case, it is the job of the defense council to question the credibility of the survivor and even to attempt to provoke or cause distress to survivors. This can be particularly true in cases where defendants attempt to claim self defense. In this case, all of the aforementioned factors were present and created a difficult experience for the survivor testifying. 
If you need help, reach out to resources in your area such as domestic violence resource centers or national resources listed in episodes of this podcast. 
Abuse is not acceptable in relationships, it is in fact a criminal act in the US. It is not the fault of the survivor. The testimony will include many attempts to discredit the witness and phrases like "It goes both ways" or "it takes two" are often tactics employed to diminish and marginalize victims. 
Violence is a choice and most survivors choose not to engage in violence within relationships. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as is demonstrated in this case study. 

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Domestic violence is too often unexamined in indigenous communities. It is a topic with a great deal of stigma, shame, and blame This episode contains nearly unabridged testimony from Edmond Lee Juneau. Full disclosure he was my former partner who was convicted of partner family member assault against me in April 2021. This episode and podcast is not intended to harm or diminish Mr. Juneau. It is intended to provide a glimpse into the behaviors, choices, and ultimately dysfunction that can lead an individual to choose to systematically harm another person. 
While difficult, it is imperative that we learn about how trauma and substance abuse can negatively impact an individual over time. While this episode focused upon one individual case study of violence, it is important to remember that many men and women choose to harm others each day. Often these individuals have severe substance abuse and trauma histories. 
However, most people who have histories of trauma do not choose to harm others. 
His testimony reflects the severity of his admitted 20 year long struggles with alcoholism. His story includes fictitious accounts of events that do not correspond to reality or to the evidence provided in this case. 
Please note: the claims he makes against my father and myself are false. I now that a very consistent and predictable tactic for individual perpetrators or abusers is to gaslight victims and victim blame. The testimony includes many instances of both direct attempts to inflict emotional harm in the actual courtroom and indirect ways of casting falsehoods upon my life or upon those that I love. Such tactics are component parts of the power and control cycle of abuse that all abusive individuals adopt. I have been conflicted about sharing his testimony, as I do not want to hear or elevate his voice after the years of systematic torture he inflicted upon me and my family. However, the intent of this podcast is to include an honest and open depiction of the events of December 27, 2018. 
If you need help or are concerned about a family member please remember that there are many resources available. I include them in the narration. 
National Domestic Violence hotline/The hotline: 1800-799-SAFE
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1800-273-8255

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Episode 3 includes testimony from both first responding police officers in this domestic violence case. Both officers were professional, knowledgeable, and committed to doing their jobs in respectful ways. While there is often grounds for concern when Indigenous people interact with law enforcement personnel in the US, in this case each of the officers were professional, honest, and fair. I am deeply grateful to the officers in this podcast footage. 

They likely saved my life that night. I will be eternally grateful to them. 

The image highlighted for this episode is an image of the hole Mr. Edmond Juneau punched into the wall of the bathroom in my house. It is mentioned frequently in the testimony, so I thought it was an appropriate image to include. I will replace, but for now I realize it is a symbol of a scar that I am still working to heal. 


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In this episode of Native Women Rising we will here direct testimony from a survivor of domestic violence at the trial for the conviction of Edmond Lee Juneau of Partner Family Member Assault in Missoula, MT. 
The episode provides a nearly unabridged (protected information is removed to protect home and children) recording of the opening testimony in the jury trial. The intent is to provide an honest account of what survivors can expect during a trial, how domestic violence can progressively escalate, and the nature of abuse within relationships.
If you need help please reach out to mental health counseling resources in your community or organizations like the YWCA Missoula, RAINN (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network) 1800-656-HOPE, or suicide prevention 1800-273-TALK.

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