Cultural Approaches within Programs Designed to Address Human Trafficking in Native Communities

Author: Tibaduiza, Elizabeth; Melander, Christina; Pfeffer, Rebecca; Pecos Melton, Ada & Martinez, Rita

Abstract: This paper shares how six projects implemented culturally responsive programming to identify and respond to human trafficking victimization in their local Native communities. Cultural responsiveness is recognized as an important component of healing for Native survivors of human trafficking. However, there is a lack of practical examples available to service providers to help them integrate and use culturally responsive approaches and services that meet Native communities’ needs. Using qualitative data from interviews (N = 63) conducted with project and key partner staff, we describe the projects’ definitions of cultural responsiveness, culturally responsive designs and services, and challenges integrating culturally responsive approaches.

Keywords: culture, cultural responsiveness, human trafficking, labor trafficking, native communities, sex trafficking