The Restoration was launched in 2004, during the campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, when national organizations came together to take a stand, calling for the inclusion of a VAWA title for Native women. These organizations recognized that for Tribal leaders, advocates, and Tribal communities to participate in the national movement fully, they needed continuous political briefings on issues impacting the safety of Native women and emerging legislation.

At the time, the magazine was a primer on violence against Native women addressing the questions what goal is achieved through the oppression of Indian Tribes and Native women and how can we win our struggle of resistance. Over the years, Restoration has contributed to understanding and answering these questions article by article, providing analysis to make systemic reforms, and working with the national movement to create the changes needed to the law or policies.

The Restoration Magazine is published three times a year by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.