THE ANNUAL MMIWR MARCH DRAWS AWARENESS AND SUPPORT

By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor Photos by Bradley Roach Jr., Band member

Hundreds gathered in the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis on Wednesday, February 14, to bring awareness to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives and to show support to families of missing and murdered loved ones at the annual MMIWR March. A number of Mille Lacs Band members joined the annual event with bus service offered by the District I Representative's Office of Virgil Wind.

"While attending the MMIWR March, I was moved by the power of hearing first-hand accounts of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives," Rep. Wind said. "The stories shared were raw, emotional, and heart-wrenching, but they also highlighted the resilience and strength of our Indigenous communities. It is through these accounts that we are reminded of the urgency and importance of seeking justice for our missing and murdered loved ones. We must continue to amplify these voices and demand action to end the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals. Their stories will not be forgotten, and their spirits will guide us in our fight for justice."

In communities across the country, Indigenous women and relatives are being murdered at a rate of 10 times the national average. Native peoples represent less than one percent of the total population yet they account for more than eight percent of the total number of missing and murdered women, children, men, and two-spirit. Homicide is the leading cause of death for Native women ages 10–24 and the fifth leading cause of death for Native women 25–34, according the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In addition, research is missing on rates of murder violence among American Indian and Alaska Native women living in urban areas. A National Institute on Justice (NIJ)-funded study from 2008 found that the rates of violence on reservations are much higher than the national average. However, according to the Urban Indian Health Institute, no research has been done on the rates of such violence among American Indian and Alaska Native women living in urban areas despite the fact that approximately 71 percent of American Indian and Alaska Natives live in urban areas.

Moreover, reports indicate that there is no reliable count of how many Native women go missing or are killed each year. Researchers have found that women are often misclassified as Hispanic or Asian or other racial categories on missing-person forms and that thousands have been left off federal missing-persons lists.

Minnesota is one of the top ten states in the U.S. with the highest case numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives, according to Minnesota Native News. In 2019, Minnesota created the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Task Force coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Yet, much work needs to be done to address the crisis and end the violence.

February 14 is the day dedicated to remembering, honoring, and bringing awareness to the crisis in Minnesota, across the U.S., and Canada.

"A very grateful thank you to all the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members who attended this powerful event with us," Rep. Wind said.

See more photos at inaajimowin.com/galleries.