Episode #2 - Reawakening the Spirit Podcast: Survivor-Centered Support for Native Victims of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a difficult and sensitive topic. Throughout the episode we may discuss issues related to human trafficking such as trauma, kidnapping, domestic, dating, and sexual violence, and victimization. Opinions and points of view expressed in this podcast are those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Department of Justice. As you listen to this conversation, the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center encourages you to take time for your own well-being and care. Please do not hesitate to take a break from listening. If you need support or to talk with someone, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. We hope you find the podcast informative and helpful. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Welcome to the Reawakening the Spirit Podcast, a safe space to have real discussions about human trafficking in Tribal communities. My name is Tyesha Wood. I am the host of Reawakening the Spirit and a member of the Navajo Nation. [Speaking in Native language]. Thank you for joining us.   My guest today is Shayla Beaumont of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana. Welcome, Shayla. Great to have you here. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Thank you. [Speaking Native language] for inviting me. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Thanks, Shayla. Let's start with your story. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from and what you do now. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Yeah, thank you for having me [Speaking Native language]. My name is Shayla Beaumont. I am from Missoula, Montana. I work for Project Beacon at All Nations Health Center, and we provide intensive case management, training, and technical assistance, community outreach and awareness activities on Indigenous human trafficking. We also advocate and work with the MMIP movement as well, but our main focus is human trafficking and prevention. 

Tyesha Wood: 

How did you get involved in anti-trafficking work? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

I studied at the University of Montana for my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and just studying the coursework, being able to expand on our interests on projects. I always was passionate and wanted to work in survivor services for Indigenous populations. We don't have a lot of support or a lot of Indigenous advocates out there. And just to provide that insight and that cultural competence, knowing and understanding the uniqueness in how each Tribe is different culturally and the healing process, the histories. Just trying to respect that and just kind of make services more available for our Indigenous population. 

Tyesha Wood: 

So, you work in Montana, are you from Montana? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

I am. I am an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, but I'm also a descendant of the Crow Nation, Gros Ventre, and Assiniboine. I have survived three kidnapping attempts. I want to teach and empower not only our Native women, but our young Native boys too and our youth. 

Tyesha Wood: 

When I hear all these topics and the issues that you're discussing, it really brings the notion of holistic care. What does holistic care mean when you're talking about survivors of human trafficking? And Shayla, do you have an example you could share of something like this? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

So Indigenous people, we're targeted for violence, we're targeted for human trafficking. We're such a vulnerable population. And a part of that holistic care approach is resiliency, intergenerational trauma. How do we stop that? So many policies went into the loss of our culture, the loss of our identity, the boarding schools. It was illegal for our elders to leave the reservation at one time. It was illegal for us to practice our beliefs and our rituals and ceremonies. It was illegal for you to speak your language. Children, they were punished very severely for even speaking their language. For that holistic care approach, we're trying to reconnect them with their identity as an Indigenous person. 

One great thing about Project Beacon is that we understand that each Tribe is different, each belief is different, each journey to healing is different. I emphasize survivor-based approach and that just whatever route they want to go. Is that learning to dance? Is that learning the language? Maybe it isn't connecting with an elder, maybe it's just connecting with another peer, but just providing access to that. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Not to take away from what you're saying right now, but I want to go back to something you mentioned earlier, and it takes a lot of strength to talk about these personal stories. But you mentioned you were a survivor of three kidnapping attempts, and that's disheartening to hear, but it's also powerful to hear that you express that and you're willing to talk about it.  

Our focus here is on survivor-informed care and it's really important to hear that perspective. I mean, can you tell a little bit more about your kidnapping experience, if you're willing to share Shayla? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Yes, I'd love to share about my three kidnapping attempts just because I feel when we think of human trafficking or when community members think of kidnapping attempts, we think of it happens at nighttime or vans. I mean, which those do happen. But the three kidnapping attempts that I survived did happen in broad daylight. They were in very public places with a lot of people around. I was at the mall, and I got a work phone call and I wanted to go out to my car just to have some more privacy on the client referral. And it was broad daylight. And I was walking to my vehicle, and I have really dark tint, but this guy was filming me on his cell phone, following me to my car. And I've seen it in my tinted window, but nobody told me that he was following me and filming me. And I took a picture of him, and I showed mall security and I got in contact with our human trafficking detective here in Missoula, gave them his information and what happened. 

In Great Falls, Montana, I was Christmas shopping with my grandparents. They went to a different part of the store, and I was looking in the men's section for some family members. This guy approaches me and says that he knows me but can't remember my name, starts asking me for my name, but I don't recognize him, so I ignored him, asked him to leave me alone. He is very persistent. He says that he does know me, and I need to go help him because he has a flat tire. I tell him, "I don't know how to change a flat tire. You're going to have to call your insurance company or AAA or some someone." And he said, "No, you have to get out to my car. I bought a dress and you're my girlfriend's size, you need to get out, so I know it's the right dress." 

And this taller gentleman that was shopping next to us, he stands in front of me and gets in between me and the guy that kept trying to get me out to his vehicle and says, "Obviously, she doesn't know you. Leave her alone. I'm calling the cops." And that guy just ran off. But no, he was very persistent. He came up with three or four stories trying to get me out to his vehicle. 

And then when I was hiking here in Missoula, it was, I'd say like 4:00 PM. It was still very light out because it was late spring, early summer. I was going on this hiking trail, and I noticed this guy, he parked. So, when you're parking in the parking lot and you're the right way to park, but he parked long ways. So instead of parking right, he parked sideways and his flatbed of his truck kind of blocked in my passenger seat. I didn't know what was going on. I was like, "Why is he parking like that? Other people want to hike, other people are here to hike. He's taking up so much space." So, I thought maybe his emptying out the garbages, but I didn't see a maintenance decal sticker. 

I noticed he kept watching me in his rear-view mirror, so I got my bear spray and got all my safety stuff that I hike with. He's watching me go up the trail for a long time. Finally, I just get this icky feeling. I get this icky gut feeling. And this gentleman and his dog, he sees the guy and he's like, "What is he doing? Why is he just parked there?" And he notices that that guy's been watching me too for a while. So that guy asks, "Can I please just walk you to your car? I don't feel safe." And so I start to walk down the trail with him and his dog and that guy sees us walking together, doesn't look for oncoming traffic or anything, and just zooms off after seeing us. 

I mean, just the way he was acting, he kept his eyes on me every move I made and the way he did park when I was talking with other professionals like, "Oh, maybe he was blocking you in so you couldn't escape." And those did all happen in broad daylight. Because I feel when we educate people about human trafficking, I feel like a lot of people think that it does happen at nighttime or when you're alone in the alley or... I mean, stuff like that does happen, but there's greater risks also in other places, other times, even when there's a lot of people around. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Of course, yeah. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

…stay. I'm very thankful for my advocate experience, my domestic violence experience, being able to point red flags in crisis situations. Because then I look back and I get nervous, what if a woman who was didn't pay attention or I mean, sometimes we just get so busy or sometimes we just want that break where we're not paying attention and just to... We always have to have our guard up. You never know what could happen. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Completely right. And those stories that what you're sharing with us, that's important for everyone to hear. It happened in broad daylight. Sometimes just taking a hike, our stress relievers in life could be a very dangerous time for individuals. And I couldn't agree with you more that it's important just to pay attention, Pay attention to everything. And for those silent angels or those people that are keeping watch of others, like the gentleman you talked about from the store, thank you to those people who are also paying attention to themselves, but to others, we need more good people in the world like you and that individual. So again, you are speaking from your experience, and I can't not say thank you again for sharing your story. It's not easy for people to talk and you have this strength in your voice and in your story, that strength, I think it derives from your purpose. Can you talk a little bit about what holistic care means when we're talking about survivors of human trafficking? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

So, our holistic care approach with Project Beacon that we definitely do try to emphasize survivor centered. As an Indigenous person and as with us being the intergenerational traumas that we've experienced, and not only that, but the boarding schools, the policies that went into practicing our culture being illegal, just so many efforts that went into the loss of that Indigenous identity and the loss of our cultural practices. So, for Project Beacon, our huge goal is learning and meeting the survivor where they're at. They are the ones who know their experience, they're the ones who know their journey better than anyone. 

And a huge goal of ours is to earn their trust and let them navigate their way to healing. And whether that's... Like their journey for everyone doesn't look the same, maybe they don't want to talk to an Elder or maybe they don't want to participate in sweat, but maybe they want to learn their language, they want to learn their role in their culture. Each of us, we work hard together. And as an Indigenous society, we all had our role to help each other out and just to provide that identity. So much brainwashing and manipulation goes into human trafficking and to earn that trust. 

Tyesha Wood: 

I understand the concept of reconnecting with our identity as Tribal or as Indigenous nations or an Indigenous individual. A part of Indigenous culture is one, remembering where we came from, but also taking those stories and those lessons we've learned and applying them to our lives now because our environment has changed since our ancestors were once here on our land. And it's really important that there's not just one set of survival tools for everyone. Because you brought up that very clear point that not all Tribal nations are the same, but if we gather those lessons we've learned and apply them, and I really like that you said we let them lead the way to guide their healing process. Can you talk about the power of relationships? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

That power of relationship, what it means to me. And when we do provide our services, a lot of times, whether it's the medical field or the legal field, just very supporting them in what they would like to do moving forward. It gets frustrating when nurses or doctors tell them what they should do. And so, we're definitely there to make sure, no, this is what she's communicating, this is what she needs, this is what she wants. Just that power of relationship, respecting where they're coming from and actually listening to them, the power of relationship, I feel like we could definitely break down that barrier of mistrust actually working together. And what does that look like? Creating safe working relationships and where that relationship, I just feel like really connecting and listening to them because over the years Indigenous, we didn't have a lot of choices. We don't, we were barely citizens in the late 1900s. So, I just feel like that power of relationship and just respecting and helping them navigate the system, whether that's medical, legal, or even spiritual. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Shayla, when you say they, I know earlier in our discussion you actually explained who you're talking about when you said they, you included male and female as well as youth. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

And they're a two-spirit population, they are definitely targeted just as much as any other gender or age group. 

Tyesha Wood: 

And so that community in itself is healing and walking that healing path. And I kind of see with the work that you're doing with Project Beacon and those survivors in your area, it's like you're walking hand in hand with each other because it is a survivor led service. You're letting them lead the way to healing. And I think that's really important in our communities. As you said, the power of relationships can be just the healing that some people, some communities need. And that's a group effort to heal and listen and understand what's happening in our communities. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

For Project Beacon, we just want to build that trust and for survivor centered approach when they do go to the healthcare system or when they do go to the criminal justice, that they're respected as a person and that they'll receive the services for help. So, not only providing that advocacy to build the trust, but also to provide the culture that was lost. So much effort that went into just our ways of healing were lost. So just reconnecting that to our survivors. And in Montana we see we have eight different Tribal nations, and they are very unique. They are not only in their Tribal beliefs, but also in their ways of healing, the ways they practice their ceremonies, their culture. So, for Project Beacon, just trying to build that trust to get services so our survivors know they're important and that they do matter. And also just to give them that sense of identity because of all the manipulation and brainwashing that also comes in human trafficking. But also, just to get that sense of Indigenous identity back because we are a vulnerable population for all the intergenerational traumas that we have experienced. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Can you tell us about the importance of working with other organizations and community members and how to build those relationships that are based on focusing on the survivor? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Yes, definitely. As an Indigenous population, we are targeted for violence. We're targeted for human trafficking. Not only women, but men. We experience domestic violence. We experience just violence in general at higher, much higher rates versus any other population. So, in the power of relationships, I feel like it's very important to educate our other organizations, our direct responders, whether that's the YWCA, Mountain Home Montana, the police, other 911 emergency advocates. Just educating them on what makes our Indigenous population so vulnerable or expressing the fact that they are targeted at higher rates so that they should, I feel like that their cases should be handled with just so much more care. And with Project Beacon, having that cultural insight and Indigenous perspective just to be on the same page and have that tight working communication moving forward with survivor services and also just communicating the other resources available. 

Sometimes Tribal entities and Tribal communities can assist us in investigations or assist us in resources or cultural healing... Access to that. And just to, I feel like make sure that our Indigenous people aren't falling through the cracks. So, making, communicating to our organizations that were here, what we provide, and also just making sure that we're in the loop for each case and just keep educating them. What is cultural competency? How can you make an Indigenous survivor feel more comfortable or safe? And we have so many women and men going missing. So many women and men murdered at high rates. So just prevention efforts. How do we intervene before things go really bad? Getting resources and along with those prevention efforts, planning, having a process set in place so that we can... I feel like having a plan set in place to be prepared for our most vulnerable population. And I don't want to say it like that, but I mean as an Indigenous people, we are resilient. But I feel like we do need a lot of emergency care and a lot of emergency services. 

Tyesha Wood: 

And our culture and a lot of our cultural teachings, our ancestors, they prepared for things ahead of time. Right? That's what I remember from stories. You prepare for any plant and dirt and during certain seasons to prepare for other types of weather so that you have food and you're prepared in that way. So, I think, yeah Shayla, it's good to plan and prepare and I think we have that instilled in us, which is why we're resilient. Right Shayla? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Right. Just practicing what our elders taught us. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Right. Right. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

And just like you said, being prepared and prepping, just like you said, that was the way of our beliefs to always just, not only prep for our ceremonies, but just to be prepared for anything really. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Definitely. Definitely voices and wisdom of our ancestors. And something that you mentioned, and I think we talked about this actually off air, but I was hoping you could talk a little bit more about it. Cause I think it's an amazing story of relationships and how you were able to provide services regarding, and this is regarding the two youth victims of human trafficking. Can you talk a little bit more about that story you shared with me earlier and that was offline, but I think if you're willing, it was a really good story. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Yeah, definitely. So, in Missoula, just like I mentioned, we're one of the bigger towns, probably us, Billings, and Bozeman. And we are a university town, so I feel like just with the size of Missoula, we have a lot of resources available. And with Missoula Project Beacon, we help out with the whole state of Montana. We're not just limited to Missoula, but we got a phone call referral for a human trafficking survivor in Kalispell. And in Kalispell, I'd say like an hour, more than an hour and a half, almost two hours away from Missoula. The young woman, she just aged out of foster care. She was on her own. She was in a very unsafe space. Kalispell, we didn't have a way to transport her safely to Missoula. So just being in providing a direct safe space and advocacy, I drove up to Kalispell to get her and her male friend. 

They were both being trafficked by the same trafficking ring, and they were both recruited by the same people and experiencing the same victimization. So, I traveled to Kalispell to safely transport them here to Missoula and they were trying to overcome their addiction and get better. And we got a lot of support from not only Kalispell, but from Missoula healthcare, emergency medical services. And the rehab folks really prioritized us and worked with us. The shelters did, but just with the COVID policies and procedures and with their emergency risks and the concern for their safety. 

We did have to transport them to California. But we had had a lot of support and a lot of help from Missoula and Kalispell community, but just with the beds unavailable, we had to outsource to our other sister program in California. And they have a rehab program that provides cultural, that provides cultural support as well. And it was just, even though we got all this support just with working with law enforcement, medical services, and the rehab services. Even though we got all those supports, I feel like human trafficking is still a new topic and the resources available, not a lot. So, we were super thankful for everyone and our California sister program, and we did help transport them to California to get help. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Great, that's a great story of just finding resources and knowing about resources and it all just come together. I think it definitely was favorable to the survivors that you helped. And that's again, the Project Beacon is doing great work with sharing information and outsourcing to serve the needs of this Indigenous population. So thank you again for telling me this story and I felt it was really important to share so other people can hear the great work that you and your team have been doing. 

Shayla Beaumont: 

Yeah, definitely. And that was one of the things the survivors mentioned, just being able to have that cultural holistic approach. They were super grateful that we had so much available for them, that we were able to connect them with cultural practitioners and everywhere they went, we were there making sure that they were meeting the services and just being that warm, just being that warm support. Just like we talked about our Indigenous persons. Sometimes it does get scary when you feel like you're not being listened or believed, whether that's in the criminal justice system or the healthcare system. 

Tyesha Wood: 

And such a good adjective there to say warm support because that's coming from these situations that the survivors, they unfortunately found themselves and were able to get out of it. That warm support is definitely there for them when they need it most. Right.  

Thank you so much for your time. I really enjoyed hearing the work that you're doing in your community and with your work with Project Beacon. And I want to ask you one last question Shayla. What do you hope our listeners take away from this conversation? 

Shayla Beaumont: 

I really hope they take away just kind of the reasons of why Indigenous people are so vulnerable to human trafficking. And just to understand that I feel like cultural competence just to understand and look through a lens just for better communication to break down that barrier of just making it a safe space for us to work together comfortably. 

Tyesha Wood: 

Right Shayla, as we know, safe spaces are important for growth and for really absorbing those survivor focus services for human trafficking victims. Thank you again, Shayla for joining me here on Reawakening the Spirit. I value and appreciate the time that you had to share your story. It is through these hard conversations that we can help our communities heal.