Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of North America
Where is this issue occuring? - Grace
Who is working on making things better? - Ryan & Sam
There are many local and international MMIWG advocacy groups that aim to bring the issues of MMIWG into the mainstream
Butterflies in spirit, it starts with us, no more silence, no more stolen sisters(Amnesty international), Helen Betty Osbourne Memorial Foundation. These groups are compramises of general advocacy groups, lobby groups, and groups that provide resources for families of MMIWG.
(Walking With Our Sisters, 2016)
As the months are going by, NamUs,
is reporting more and more MMIW
on their archive
NamUs, 2021
The Department of Justice Canada has been
funding initiatives that support the families
of MMIW.
Government of Canada, 2021
"The National Crime Information Centre reports that
in 2016, there were 5712 reports of Missing American
Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, through
the US department of Justice's federal missing person
database, NamUs, only logged 116 cases"
Native Hope
Native Hope, N.D
Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national association that represents the voice of indegenous women and girls in politics and aims to enhance, promote economic, cultural and political well being of Indigenous women of all creeds.
The NWAC every year writes a report on the status of the MMWIG issue in Canada the rest of the america's and aims to being awareness to the issues of MMIWG to broader society and the governments at all levels.
(NWAC, 2022)
Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS) is a volunteer organization that is led by the families of the missing murdered indigenous women and girls and is associated with the Native Womens's association of Canada.
(Kairos, 2017)
When did this issue begin? - Ava
In 2014, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police put out that more than 1000 women and girls were killed or went missing in-between the years of 1980 and 2012.
In December of 2015, the government of Canada began their public national inquiry into the issue
On the safe passage website they
have a log of cases and their earliest
one is in 1929. The only thing known
thing about case is the year, the
province, Saskatchewan, and that is was
a Suspicious Death.
A more famous case that relates to the
MMIW is a women, girl, that was imprisoned
in Jamestown Virginia, by English colonists who
killed her husband, took her baby from her, and
then raped her in captivity. Her name is Matoaka
or as she is commonly known as Pocahontas.
(Yes, 2022)
In 2019, the American government has started their plan to efforts in addressing MMIW.
(CBC, 2022)
Minnesota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana each opened a study or task force that year to look into the issue.
In 2021 Idaho held a summit. Oregon and Nebraska directed the state police to study what was happening, and Wisconsin and Utah both established a task force to investigate.
In 2021 South Dakota and Oklahoma created offices to address MMIW. Kansas passed a law paving the way for police training in the matter, and Washington's state attorney general announced that there was going to be a task force lead by him
(U.S. Department of the Interior, 2022)
(The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2022 )
(Anadolu Agency, 2021)
In certain years there has been an uproar of different public organizations and people that have been advocating for the Missing and Murdered Indingouse women.
Jordan Marie
Jordan Marie is a fourth generation runner and a Kul Wičasa Lakota Ingenious women. In 2015, she ran the Boston Marathon with a red hand print over her mouth, a symbol that can be recognized for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women. Jordan is an activist and she wanted to bring attention to a cause that was close to her. During the marathon, she was running for the MMIW and praying for them. In total she has ran over 100 miles for the missing and murdered women, girls, and two spirited people.
(Hearst Magazine Media, 2022)
No more stolen sisters
How have things progressed so far?
Just as recent as 2014 Loretta Saunders went missing when she was 26 ironically as she was studding the issue of missing ingenuous woman
"acknowledged in a 2014 report that there have been more than 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women between 1980 and 2012."
("Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia", 2022)
In 2017 alone around 5,712 indigenous women were reported as missing or murdered, and 2,758 in the first six months of 2018. readers would suspect as time goes on there would be less of this happening, but yet the issue continues to grow.
("The Red Road: The Issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women", 2022)
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women
(Link to timeline of murdered indigenous women)
On this website you will find a timeline of when the group "No More Stolen Sisters" was founded. which is a group that brings awareness to missing indigenous woman.
What can be done to further the cause? - Julianne
Planned/Other Ideas
Ways to support the loved ones of a missing or murdered Indigenous woman.....
Ask them what they need! Everyone's needs will be different. They may need emotional support, help around the house, assistance with the legal system, or assistance raising awarenes. Always be respectful - understandably, this will be a very difficult time. Ensure you are not overstepping any boundaries.
Listen to survivor stories to better understand the issue.
What YOU Can Do
Ways to honour Sisters in Spirit Day....
(Native Women's Association of Canada, 2021)
Share the Sisters in Spirit vigil graphic on your social media pages.
Light a candle in the window of your dwelling.
Attend or host a vigil.
Call the Government of Canada's emotional assistance hotline if you are emotionally affected or distressed by this issue and need immediate support.
1-884-413-6649.
(Government of Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 2021)
Donate to Drag the Red.
Current Initiatives
Drag the Red is a volunteer-run organization that searches the Red River for missing and murdered Indigenous women. They work to provide families and loved ones with closure.
(Grabish, 2017)
The Assembly of First Nations has created an action plan to end violence against First Nations women and girls. They host regional engagment sessions, during which they take the input of survivors and the loved ones of the lost to further improve their action plan.
(King, 2021)
October 4th has been designated "Sisters in Spirit Day". On this day, we honour missing and mudered Indigenous women, and show support for their loved ones.
(Alberta.ca , n.d.)
