​At Great Plains Action Society, our mission is to address the ongoing harm caused by settler-colonialism. One of the deepest harms that that colonization has brought is the disrespect of bodily autonomy, especially non-white, non-cishetero, non-male bodies. Indigenous peoples have always had their own medicines and own practices concerning reproduction. Laws dictating what individuals can and cannot do with their bodies are in direct conflict with free cultural practice. Laws that prevent access to necessary medical care have and will continue to result in deaths, with these deaths concentrated in already underserved BIPOC communities. Our fight for reproductive justice is a fight for cultural sovereignty and also a fight for the safety and wellbeing of our communities. 

We have been fighting for Reproductive Liberation in in Iowa and Eastern Nebraska for many years. We have never had the resources to do as much as we want, but we have been prolific for a small, grassroots organization and have brought a voice to Indigenous Peoples on the issue in an area where it is not often heard. Indigenous women face the highest rape and sexual assault rates in the United States. Cycles of colonial trauma have also heightened the rates of substance abuse and domestic violence in our communities. These injustices create a higher need for abortions as these are crisis situations where a women’s right to choose is an absolute necessity. However, the lack of quality reproductive health services and education in Indigenous communities has led to high unintended pregnancy rates.