Caddo Citizen Honored for Advocacy Against Domestic Violence
Congratulations to Darcie Parton-Scoon, a proud member of the Caddo Nation and a dedicated advocate for survivors of domestic violence. Darcie has been selected as a recipient of the 18th Annual Volunteer Award for Excellence in Action Against Domestic Violence, recognizing her dedication, perseverance, and compassion in responding to the needs of domestic violence victims.
The award is presented by the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General, Native Alliance Against Violence, and District Attorneys Council as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Darcie was honored at a press conference on October 1, 2026, at the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General in Oklahoma City.
In addition to her advocacy and volunteer work, Darcie serves on the Caddo Nation Constitution Commission, contributing her time and expertise to an important effort focused on the Nation’s governing document and future.
In an interview for this story, Darcie reflected on the experiences that brought her to this work, the meaning of this recognition, and the importance of helping survivors understand that support is available even after they have reached a safer place.
“It’s a little overwhelming when I think about the number of people that volunteer their time,” she said. “I’ve been in this field since 1998, and being able to reflect on policy change and resources I’ve had the privilege of helping build has helped me cope with the trauma of watching our people suffer greater statistical numbers of violence.”
Darcie’s path into advocacy began in law enforcement and continued through her work with missing persons nonprofit organizations. The violence she encountered in those cases made helping survivors a necessity. In her work with missing juveniles, she said her own tracking showed that approximately 67% had experienced violence.
That experience eventually led her to focus on Indigenous communities, where she recognized a pressing need for resources and a coordinated response. In 2013, Darcie conducted her first missing person training for tribal law enforcement. That same year, she presented a resolution to the Tribal Council requesting a tribal missing persons policy.
For Darcie, the significance of this award is closely tied to the resources and policies she has helped build and the people those efforts are intended to serve.
“Knowing that the resources I have worked on to help reduce that level of violence is working is so important to me,” she said.
She also pointed to research from the Urban Indian Health Institute’s Our Bodies, Our Stories initiative to illustrate the urgent need for this work. In a survey of 148 Native women in Seattle, 94% reported having experienced rape or sexual coercion in their lifetime. Although this finding describes that study group rather than all Native women, it underscores the serious experiences of violence documented among participants.
Darcie emphasized that understanding domestic violence begins with recognizing its different forms. Abuse can include verbal, physical, or sexual violence, and women are not the only people affected. Boys and men who have experienced or been exposed to domestic violence may also need support. Those services, she explained, can range from housing assistance to counseling. Reaching safety does not necessarily mean that the need for support has ended.
“It’s okay to need these services after you’ve experienced domestic violence, even if you’re in a much safer place,” Darcie said.
To help explain patterns of abuse, Darcie shared the Duluth Power and Control Wheel, a
visual resource identifying tactics used to establish and maintain control over a partner. Developed from the experiences of women who had survived abuse, the wheel illustrates how intimidation, isolation, emotional abuse, economic abuse, and other controlling behaviors can work alongside physical and sexual violence. Darcie described it as a helpful tool for survivors seeking to understand and put words to their experiences.
Her message is a reminder that recognizing abuse, asking for help, and continuing to seek support are important parts of healing. Through decades of service, Darcie has worked to make those resources more accessible and to strengthen the community’s response to violence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the Oklahoma SafeLine at 1-800-522-SAFE (7233) for free, confidential support, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline connects people with resources and support options. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
The Caddo Nation offers Victim Services, listed by the Native Alliance Against Violence at 572-226-0059. To find tribal domestic violence and sexual assault programs, shelters, and intervention resources throughout Oklahoma, visit the Native Alliance Against Violence Tribal Programs directory. You deserve support, whether the abuse is happening now or you are healing from past experiences.
The Caddo Nation is proud to recognize Darcie for her commitment to helping others and making a positive difference in the community. Her service reflects the strength, compassion, and dedication that Caddo citizens bring to their communities. Congratulations, Darcie, on this well-deserved recognition!
Mentioned websites and help lines in this article are listed below
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