The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana, its Tribal Police, and its Four Winds® Casinos are lending their support to help raise awareness for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which is recognized every January.
According to the Department of Homeland security, human trafficking refers to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in sexual acts. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, false promises of well-paying jobs, or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement, along with language barriers, are often cited as reasons that keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime. It is important to note that a victim need not be physically transported from one location to another for the crime to fall within this definition.
Providing some perspective on the magnitude of the problem, in 2023 the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 254 cases in Michigan which included 506 victims. In Indiana there were 110 cases including 185 victims for the same period. While human trafficking can occur to individuals of any age, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, and socio-economic class, Native American communities are disproportionately impacted by this crime…