Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence in the State of Michigan

Michigan Legal Help has information about Domestic Violence and Personal Protection Orders

WashingtonLawHelp.org provides a guide to military protection orders.

Domestic Violence and Criminal Jurisdiction on Tribal Lands

StrongHearts Native Helpline provides information about domestic violence specifically for Native Americans. They offer many services for survivors of abuse at no cost.

The Tribal Law and Policy Institute has information on VAWA and tribal criminal jurisdiction.

Uniting Three Fires Against Violence has additional resources available for Michigan Tribes.

WashingtonLawHelp provides more information on VAWA

Protections afforded survivors of domestic violence under each of the 12 Tribal Jurisdictions in Michigan 

*The files linked below do not fully comply with all applicable guidelines for accessible digital documents. For alternative formats, contact us at 231-947-0122 or probono@mils3.org.*


Bay Mills Indian Community

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Community

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians


Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians Gun Lake Tribe

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Contact MILS

If you need additional assistance, please contact MILS at 231-947-0122. 

Starting August 1, 2023, MILS has an Equal Justice Works, Crime Victims Advocacy Program Fellow on staff for 2 years to work in the Tribal Court systems with victims of crime (with a focus on domestic violence).

Other Sources of Help

Firekeeper's Daughter Presentation 

with Angeline Boulley & Special Legal Guests (Prof. Carlson, Hon. Fabry, Hon. Pope, & Jeff Davis)

Am I Being Abused? 

This video from DomesticShelters.org makes it easier to identify abuse and abusers by explaining the types of abuse, patterns of behavior among abusers, common abuser traits, phrases abusers use, and other ways to identify when domestic violence is occurring.