Native Children
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The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women’s Technology Safety guidance, updated October 1 and rechecked October 19 at 10:56 a.m. Pacific, says suddenly changing passwords, deleting apps, turning off location sharing, blocking accounts or altering device settings can sometimes alert a person who may be monitoring technology or change the risk. A setting change is not a diagnosis, and safety planning should follow the survivor’s choices and circumstances.

CSVANW explains that phones, apps, accounts and location services can be used for monitoring, threats, harassment or control—but can also remain important connections to family, culture, community, school and support. No single behavior proves abuse, and no single technology plan fits every person. An adult should not confiscate a device or make a hidden change in the name of safety.

At the October 19 check, the guidance remained live. This letter treats it as educational guidance—not a new incident, a national prevalence estimate, a diagnosis or confirmation that a local service is available. CSVANW is a Native-founded, Native-led regional coalition serving New Mexico’s Tribal communities; it does not provide emergency or direct services, speak for every Tribal Nation or family, or replace a survivor’s judgment.

Call 911 for immediate physical danger. For a missing child, contact local law enforcement first and then NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). StrongHearts Native Helpline is 1-844-7NATIVE by call or text, with online chat; phone service is available to people of all ages, internet-based services are unavailable to people younger than 13, and advocates cannot connect callers to 911. The BIA Missing and Murdered Unit accepts information about federal crimes and missing or murdered cases occurring in Indian Country through its official portal, BIAMMU plus a tip to 847411, 1-833-560-2065 or OJS_MMU@bia.gov; it is not a universal missing-child line or emergency dispatch.

No child, survivor, account, device identifier, password, location, case, Tribal citizenship, home address or school routine is named or pictured. This educational letter uses no organization logo or cultural, ceremonial or sacred imagery. Inclusion is informational, not an endorsement, diagnosis or promise of services.

Technology safety should widen a survivor’s choices—not make a hidden decision for them.