Photos by Frank X. Moraga ©2025
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
FLAGSTAFF — While October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is quickly coming to a close, that doesn’t mean the issue should be put behind us for another year.
Speakers at the “Voices Unheard: Breaking the Silence” — A community gathering for prevention, strength and healing, made it clear that domestic violence, stalking and human trafficking are all ongoing issues that must be addressed year round by community leaders, law enforcement and others.
Sponsored by the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Coconino County, the City of Flagstaff and CF Productions, LLC., the event featured a number of speakers who shared their personal stories of facing abuse and how they overcame those challenges.
“It was remarkable the way the community came together to support this series of events. Being able to bring speakers with such a wide array of experience and working knowledge together while seeing so many community members arrive both in support and to learn was truly special,” said Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coalition.
Following the welcome and opening prayer by Rose Toehe, Indigenous Affairs Administrator for the City of Flagstaff, event emcee Watahomigie introduced a variety of speakers who shared their experiences.
One woman, who preferred to remain anonymous because of an ongoing court case, shared her strength and perseverance along with her discoveries along the way. She is an advocate for more resources and for the community learning about those resources. Her lived-experience helped those in attendance see where the local system could be strengthened.
Featured speaker Lynnette GreyBull, Húnkpapha Lakhóta and NorthernArapaho, the founder, director of Not Our Native Daughters, talked about her group’s effort to protect Indigenous women and children against the trafficking, exploitation and murder — issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous Persons. She has appeared on Dateline NBC’s episode on Missing, Murdered, and Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIW).
Savanna J. Sanders, executive director of AppleJack’s Ranch, focused on “Lived Experience, Domestic Violence and Trafficking.” She brought her unique perspective of lived experience and 17 years in the field, to inform policies and practices around the world. She has played key roles in several prestigious organizations including Survivor Alliance, Sojourner Center and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute.
Tyesha M. Wood, Diné, a seasoned law enforcement professional with 17-plus years of experience, presented the program “Behind the Screen: Staying Safe from Digital Danger.” She gave real world examples of both the dangers, as well as, a legal perspective to protecting self and others from danger on the internet.
Detective Bethany Hyde of the Flagstaff Police Department, Cherokee, talked about “Building Trust on the Path to Justice: Crime Reporting, Investigation and Community Collaboration.” She serves as a criminal investigator with the department’s People Crime Unit, where she investigates cases involving homicide, violent assaults, sexual assault and child abuse. She explained how criminal investigations proceed and addressed common challenges victims face.
The program included a Q&A session with the speakers and closing remarks, healing and resources by Dorothy Gishie, a traditional practitioner.
“While the subjects are difficult, and are deeply felt by everyone in the room, the act of speaking, raising awareness and coming together in action is so incredibly important. I am so thankful to everyone who helped support this event, and that I had the opportunity to be a part of it,” Watahomigie said.
Photo by Virginia Watahomigie. ©2025
