June 11, 2025

On May 22, representatives of Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, law enforcement, human services organizations and governmental agencies gathered along with Bishop Terry R. LaValley, representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Sisters of St. Joseph for Indigenous Human Trafficking Listening Sessions.

“We had 30 participants that represented local leadership – two Chiefs from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, (Department of) Homeland Security, St. Regis Mohawk Police, (Canada Border Services Agency), the Three Sisters, & Seven Dancers Program, North Country Catholic Charities, the North Country Human Trafficking Task Force, Migrant Workers Program, NYS Assistant Attorney General’s Office, St. Regis Mission Church, U.S. (Customs and Border Protection), Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Wellness Program and the Diocese of Ogdensburg Sisters of St. Joseph and Bishop LaValley,” said Dr. RJ “Dolly” McDonald, local indigenous advisor to the USCCB and facilitator of the session. “The USCCB representatives were Father Michael Carson from the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity - Native American Subcommittee and Ms. Felicitas Brugo Onetti of USCCB Migration and Refugee Services.”

The event was intended to “raise awareness on indigenous human trafficking and its intersection with related forms of violence to help offset some of the risk factors confronting Native American and Indigenous people,” according to an event description.

“The listening session will connect with advocates of indigenous anti-human trafficking initiatives and uplift individual leaders to help educate, protect, promote and integrate preventive and educational efforts, and facilitating ongoing dialogue with Catholic churches, schools and local non-profits to spread awareness on the issue of trafficking within native and indigenous communities and help to institutionalize efforts to combat this violence which affects all of us.”

After opening prayer and greetings, the event opened with a presentation on “The Role of the Church in Combating Human Trafficking,” given by Brugo Onetti. The presentation discussed Catholic social teaching on human trafficking, the history of anti-trafficking programs within the Church, discussion of current USCCB anti-trafficking programs and discussion of why indigenous populations are susceptible to trafficking and who the most vulnerable in the population.

The presentation showed discrimination, psychological and health vulnerabilities – low self-esteem, histories of abuse or neglect, mental health issues and risky behaviors, legal and immigration status and lack of protection systems as factors that make victims vulnerable.

The presentation, facilitated by Dr. McDonald, was followed by small group discussions and discussions of further actions that could be taken to address indigenous human trafficking.

“The biggest outcome of the session was that the participants had never participated in a session as equals with clergy,” said Dr. McDonald. “Almost every one stated they saw the Church demystified for them and that for some of them it changed their lives forever.”

Dr. McDonald indicated a full report of the session would be compiled later this month.