Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women awareness week observed in the U.S.

This week marks Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Awareness Week across the U.S., and on Wednesday, Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) took to the Senate floor to call for stronger federal action to address the crisis.

“It is a sobering reminder of both the breathtaking scale of this tragedy that has plagued Native communities for generations, and how far we still have to go to bring justice and healing to the victims and families affected by it,” Schatz said in his speech.

Murder is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women in the United States—10 times higher than the national average.

The senator said it was also important to remember that Indigenous women are victims of violent crimes like rape and sexual assault at more than twice the rate of other groups in the U.S.

“This crisis is likely out of view for most Americans, but it stares us in the face,” Schatz said.

Schatz said years of federal neglect and underfunding means the full scale of the crisis likely remains unknown, with justice delayed for too many victims.

“Justice has not been served, and families haven’t been able to begin the process of healing,” he said.

Schatz urged increased federal resources to investigate these crimes and hold perpetrators responsible. He also highlighted many current ongoing epidemics such as in Hawai‘i, where Native Hawaiian women are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, making up 64 per cent of trafficking survivors in the state.

Schatz said some progress has been made including the 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which restored Tribal jurisdiction over certain crimes and boosted resources for Native communities.

He said observing May 5 the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls, also helps call attention to the ongoing crisis.

“No one bill or action is going to remedy generations of neglect and injustice, but it was an important step forward – along with other bills – in turning the tide on this shameful and longstanding crisis,” he said.

While praising some recent progress, Schatz said more resources were needed to ensure Native women and girls can feel safe in their communities.

Red Dress Day in Canada 

In Canada, Red Dress Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) was observed on May 5.

Red Dress Day, first observed in 2010, was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, which featured an installation of red garments to honor Indigenous women who were missing or murdered.

The day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People, encourages people to wear red to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous communities.

Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca 

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Inuit women’s org urges federal leaders to address housing, costs, and violence, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Swedish-speaking Finnish women launch their own #metoo campaign, Yle News

United States: Alaska reckons with missing data on murdered Indigenous women, Alaska Public Media