Breaking the Silence

The papers offers a framework for non-Native American public health workers or NGOs working with Native American communities. The framework challenges the reader to consider history, relationships, and a paradigm shift for successful partnerships. There is a growing interest in developing culturally relevant prevention programs. The author serves as a Youth Sexual Violence Prevention Educator at an agency in the Southwest Region of the United States. This study was inspired by a sexual violence prevention presentation at a nearby Native American reservation; the experience raised questions about cultural and contextual relevance of a youth sexual violence prevention curriculum and pedagogy. The goal of prevention work is to stop violence from happening in the first place. Literature review has shown that generic approaches to sexual violence prevention are not effective, and that prevention work needs to pay more attention to cultural relevance. In this study the author challenges mainstream framework of understanding sexual violence and sexual violence prevention. Through interviews and literature reviews the author compiled different perspectives by Native American professional