SILENT NO MORE — BAND MEMBERS SPEAK UP ABOUT MMIR
Empty red dresses line the HWY. 169 corridor through the Reservation.The emptiness is indicative of the women who should be wearing them but are missing or murdered.
By VIVIAN LaMOORE, INAAJIMOWIN EDITOR
American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and more specifi+cally American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have long endured domestic violence, homicide, sexual assault, and abuse at disproportionately higher rates than other groups. The Mille Lacs Band Health and Human Resources Department reaffirmed their commitment to honor the lives of missing and murdered relatives and continue to shine a light on egregious unconscionable treatment toward and against American Indian and Alaska Native peoples for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Awareness week the first week in May.
Empty red dresses hung on the fence along US Highway 169 indicative of the women and children who should be wearing them but are no longer with us. During an event held at the HHS campus on May 4, many participants wore a red handprint painted across their faces representing the voices of many who vow to be silent no more. That of which was the reoccurring theme ringing through the speeches given that day.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin.
Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin said it is the role of the Band elected officials to bring issues to the state and federal government. Awareness and education efforts with other Minnesota tribes and the rest of Indian Country have resulted in legislative changes in Minnesota. “Our voice does not lie in the statistics of the violence that has been perpetrated against us. It lies in the way we react and gather together as a unified people,” she said.
Chief Executive Benjamin encouraged attendees to learn about the MMIR issues to help bring awareness to others and educate others on the impact of violence in the community. “Always make sure that our elected officials are aware of these issues and that we are public servants. We are not bosses. You are the ones who determine what our actions are.”
Commissioner of Health and Human Services Nicole Anderson discussed the startling statistics. In a 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice, more than 56 percent of Native women reported that they had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The murder rate for Indigenous women is 10 times what it is for the general U.S. population. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native American women and girls under the age of 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Anderson said there is not just one root cause of this epidemic, there are many. There are systemic barriers that “we all see and experience every day,” Anderson said. “As the Chief Executive stated, it is the elected and the appointed official’s roles to bring that forward from the community. That is very important, because that is how things change. That is how we get policy changed, laws changed, by speaking up about those topics.”
Anderson reiterated that the only way to make change happen is to continue to talk about the issue, ask questions, speak up. “I encourage each and every one of you to use your voice …. Remember this: abuse thrives in silence.”
Powerfully moving stories were told by Band members using their voices to share their personal experiences.
David Sam Jr. shared the heartbreaking story of the loss of his daughter, Tanya, who was murdered by her boyfriend on March 2, 2016. “She was going to leave him, but he decided to run her over.” She left behind two children and the pain that lives in the hearts of her family. “They should have their mom. But they don’t.”
That day changed the trajectory of the lives of all who loved her. Her daughter, Star, was 2 months old when her mother passed, and Tanya's son, Anthony, was about to turn 5 years old. The children are now 7 and 12 years old respectfully. The family tells the children stories of their mother as a way for them to have a piece of her with them.
“I often wish and dream of being able to be with my daughter just for five minutes. I wonder how that conversation would go.” David swallowed back tears as he spoke. “I would tell her how much I love her and how much she means to me. And tell her how much I miss her. I don’t think that pain ever goes away.”
Audience members wiped away tears and young Star held and hugged her grandmother, Dana Skinaway.
Representative Virgil Wind shared a story of his youth as told from his role as a community member, father, and grandfather. Wind recollected a lesson he learned the hard way as a youth about how important it is to respect everyone, but women in particular. His endearing story of himself disrespecting his grandmother and the lesson that incident taught him resonated with many in the audience while his message was strong. “How can we expect men from outside our community to respect our sisters if we don’t respect them first. It starts right here. It starts right now with us…. Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.”
Angelic Aubid is a youth from District II who shared heartfelt statements regarding mental health and substance abuse linked to trauma and a "dark period" she went through. She said it is important to connect to the cultural teachings and resources to help get through the dark times. "Stay connected, have self-respect, and respect each other,” she said.
Tawny Savage of the MMIR Office in Minnesota spoke about developing protocol for responding to questions from communities, coordinating with law enforcement, working as liaisons with families whose relatives have gone missing, and case reviews.
Mille Lacs Tribal Police Investigators Cook and Gadboy offered information on how to report missing relatives. They said it is important to report as soon as possible and “not wait” no matter what the reasons are behind waiting. It is no longer required to wait 24 hours to report a missing person. The sooner it is reported, the sooner the investigation begins.
