The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) proudly hosted our annual Advocate Retreat on May 30^th, 2025, a day-long gathering dedicated to the healing and rejuvenation of those on the frontlines of advocacy within our Tribal communities. Centered around the themes of land, community, and self, this year’s retreat served as a much-needed space for rest, reconnection, and reflection. 

Advocates are often the unsung heroes doing some of the most difficult, emotionally intense work in our communities. They carry their own stories of pain while fighting tirelessly for the justice and safety of survivors, navigating systems that weren’t built with Indigenous values or wellness in mind. At CSVANW, we recognize their labor and the emotional, physical, and mental toll it can take. Our Advocate Retreat is one way we strive to give back to these advocates: fostering a moment to breathe, to feel supported, and to honor the sacred responsibility of care. 

Grounding in the Land 

Throughout the day, we continued this dialogue, discussing the historical and ancestral connections Native peoples have to the land, and how colonization has disrupted, but not erased, these ties. The conversations invited deep reflection on what it means to reclaim these connections and how healing often begins with returning to our story with the land. 

Strength in Community 

We later welcomed a presentation on mental health in a community led by the Water Collection, LLC. Grounded in a shared connection and loss through the land, advocates learned about the importance of community relationships and support in our individual wellness journeys. Our conversations explored the unique ways Tribal communities express and foster rooted relationships.  

Throughout the retreat, advocates were invited to connect not only with the land but with one another. We carved out time for meaningful conversations, laughter, shared meals, and simply being present with others who understand the weight of advocacy work. Community care is a cornerstone of advocacy: it is where we find strength, insight, and sometimes, just the quiet validation that we are not alone. 

These moments of connection also served as reminders that advocacy is not only about fighting for others, but also about holding space for ourselves and for each other. Building a community helps prevent burnout and reminds us that our individual healing is intimately tied to collective liberation. 

A Moment to Breathe: The Self 

We closed our day with a yin yoga session by Summer Jones for a guided practice to return to self. This calming practice allowed everyone a moment to turn inward, listen to their bodies, release tension, and experience stillness. In the quiet stretch of breath and movement, we were reminded of the power of self-care rooted in the land, not as a luxury, but as a vital act of preservation and empowerment. Summer’s refrain rounded out the day: 

I am at home in my body.  

I am connected to the earth and the stars.  

I am a beautiful thread woven into the fabric of my community.  

As everyone moved together in a collective harmony of stillness and breath, all were reminded of the inward journey that begins in the land and ends in the land: the circle of creation with roots in our own hearts. 

Looking Ahead 

We are deeply grateful to all the advocates who joined us this year and honored us with their presence. We are also thankful for all the advocates that support their communities and hope to expand our retreat in the years ahead to strengthen and expand this community. Their commitment, strength, and compassion fuel the movement to end violence and uplift Native voices. We hope this retreat offers a moment of peace and planted seeds of deeper healing. 

As we look to the future, we remain committed to creating spaces that center cultural wellness, community strength, and personal restoration. We cannot wait to welcome more advocates back next year for another powerful retreat of rest, renewal, and reconnection.