
Trauma in Native American communities plays role in child sexual abuse, experts say
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism
Child sexual abuse is such an age-old problem that it’s explained in many Native American communities with a parable known as the Story of the Moon and the Sun.
As retold by child psychologist Dolores Subia BigFoot, a member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, the story is about a brother and sister who have lost their parents and many relatives and have only each other.
The sister longs for companionship and tells her brother of her “desire to share her life with someone,” the parable goes.
One night, a man comes to her in the darkness of their camp. She cannot tell who he is, but he’s kind and makes her laugh and, over time, they become lovers. Ultimately, the girl learns that the stranger is her brother, and they are devastated.
“He became the MOON who does not shine except in the darkness of night and she became the SUN. You can still see his shame because he never shines brightly when the sun is out,” the parable says.

Researchers Grace Oldham and Rachel Gold contributed to this story. It was produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard. For more see azpbs.org/littlevictims. Contact the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at howardcenter@asu.edu or on Twitter @HowardCenterASU.
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism: Pathways to justice (September 2, 2021)
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism: Tribal law and disorder (August 30, 2021)
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism: ‘No justice, just unfairness’ (August 24, 2021)
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism: ‘Little victims everywhere’ (August 18, 2021)
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