The U.S. Department of Justice awarded more than $780,000 in Recovery Act funds to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Wednesday. These funds are in addition to the more than $544,000 in Recovery Act funds awarded to two South Dakota tribal coalitions on Aug. 24.

In a release, the Office on Violence Against Women said it is awarding $787,633 to the tribe to provide advocacy and supportive services to victims.

The tribe will use the funds to renovate the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society shelter to create a safe environment, to enhance the handicap accessibility of the shelter and drop-in services, provide a new roof and purchase a shelter vehicle.

The tribe will also create an education and prevention campaign addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking, implement a Domestic Violence Court and enhance the tribal court's ability to hold hearings on domestic violence cases and to provide security measures to ensure the safety of victims and the public.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama, provides the Office on Violence Against Women with $20.8 million for the Indian Tribal Governments Program to decrease the number of violent crimes committed against Native American women.

More information is available at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.