May 5 is commemorated as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls/ People/ Relatives. The day became recognized in 2017 when Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester responded to the murder of Hanna Harris on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, as well as the cumulation of other murders and abductions of Native women and girls. Since then, grassroots efforts at local, regional, national, and international levels have grown as Indigenous families, advocates, and Indigenous nations continue to call attention to the violence and galvanize action in response to the MMIWG crisis.
We encourage you to join community actions this week to raise awareness and call on governments to be accountable to the injustices and systemic barriers embedded in federal and local legislation that perpetuate this crisis. As Hanna Harris’s mother, Malinda Limberhand, aptly said: “As a mother, nothing will replace the loss of my daughter, but by organizing to support the National Day of Awareness and creating the changes needed, I know it will help others. And Hanna and so many others will not be forgotten.”
9 Actions to Take for National Day of Awareness for #MMIWG #MMIP
1. Wear red, take a photo, and share it on social media to bring awareness of #MMIWG.
Share a photo. Make sure to use hashtags #MMIW, #MMIWG, #MMIP, #MMIWG2S, #MMIWActionNow, and #NoMoreStolenSisters!
A short film by Native Hope. Marty Coulee is a Native American entrepreneur living the good life. When her Native American business parter Jess, vanishes without a trace on a business trip to Arizona, Marty becomes a voice for the voices unheard.
This film follows three Indigenous women – an artist, an activist, and a politician – as they fight to vindicate and honor their missing and murdered relatives who have fallen victims to a growing epidemic across Indian country. Despite the lasting effects from historical trauma, each woman must search for healing while navigating racist systems that brought about this very crisis.
5. Listen to our Indigenous Rights Radio interview with Leya Hale.
Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Navajo) is a storyteller, documentary filmmaker, and a producer with Twin Cities PBS (TPT). Her recent film, "Bring Her Home," addresses the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in the United States.
6. Include Two-Spirit Relatives in Awareness of MMIWG2S and Support Two-Spirit Safety and Visibility
It is imperative to include Two-Spirit relatives in the raising of awareness of MMIWG. Read about the meaning of Two-Spirit to learn about the many intersections of violence that threaten Two-Spirit people. To learn more and give support, visit organizations such as Families of Sisters in Spirit and read this organizing toolkit from the Sovereign Bodies Institute. For immediate help with a case of domestic violence or dating violence, please visit StrongHearts Native Helpline's online Chat Advocacy or helpline (1-844-7NATIVE). Center Two-Spirit relatives in every effort: elevate their voices, include them in imagery and language, and address the unique violence they face.
May 5 resonates deeply at the Sweetgrass Cultural Enrichment Center in Bradford, Rhode Island. As an intertribal space rooted along the historic Pequot Trail, Sweetgrass is committed to cultural healing, preservation, and protection of Indigenous life in memory and active resistance to erasure.
2067 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 441-5400
www.cs.org
Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972. We envision a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.
