Red Dress Warriors Nonprofit Startup

"American Indians and Alsaka Natives are two and a half times more likely to experience violent crimes and at least two times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes in comparison to all other ethnicities." - The Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Statistics.  The MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) crisis within the United States and Canada is swiftly affecting our Native American women and children. One in three Native American women is sexually assaulted during her lifetime. What are we as a people doing to combat this epidemic? How do we break this cycle of abuse and horrific trauma?  My goal is to arm our young native women with tools to effectively arm themselves with the skills to protect themselves and each other from these dangers facing them today. I am aiming to create a nonprofit organization, Women Warriors Inc., that would teach our women defensive tactics and how to identify potentially dangerous situations. Focusing on a hands on approach with self defense techniques, classroom education, and in depth discussions about how to keep ourselves safe.  Currently no such programs exist and I believe a hands on approach and educating our youth on how to protect themselves could be monumental in combating this crisis we as native women find ourselves in today.  My name is Natalie Locust Sankey, I am 26 years old, and I come from the Navajo, Oglala Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Cherokee tribes. I have spent the last 5 years of my career in Law Enforcement. I've learned a lot about self defense and protection, and gives me the ability to help other women potentially save themselves from a horrific event.  I am seeking help to fund start up costs of this nonprofit, in order to help with the MMIW epidemic. I need to file a 501(c)(3) with the IRS, a name reservation fee, a Colorado Secretary of State, Business Division Charge, and miscellaneous legal fees. I am asking for help to start this dream of mine to help save our women and children and help to reverse the legacy of trauma and death.