Missing and Murdered Indigenous People's Month

May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s (MMIP) month, with May 5th as the official day commemorating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Throughout the U.S. and Canada, indigenous people are murdered at a higher rate compared to other ethnic groups. Much of this stems from the constant dehumanization and lack of protection for the groups. What this month signifies is not only a way to remember those who have been murdered, but to do something to prevent those murders from continuing.

In the United States, Indigenous people are twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to all races in the country. They face disproportionate rates of sexual violence, abductions, and murder compared to other women, making them a group with the highest risk of sexual violence. Data shows that Indigenous Americans aged 12 and up experience 5,900 sexual assault cases per year, with 41% being committed by strangers. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for girls and women aged 10-24.

In Canada, the situation is no better. Indigenous women are 400% more likely to go missing compared to other groups in the country and 7 times more likely to be murdered by a serial killer. The number of cases is so high and with errors in the systems, the government does not know the true number of missing and murdered Indigenous people. The government has faced immense pressure to address and combat this crisis, leading them to launch an independent inquiry to gather inputs and hear from the communities affected. They held a truth-gathering process, which received 2,386 participants as well as family members' and survivors testimony with 1,484 participants. Many of the findings led people to contend that what is happening is not a crisis - it’s a genocide. 

In both countries, the situation is exacerbated by colonial structures still in place. There is also a lack of a comprehensive approach to investigating these crimes. This is especially evident in the U.S., where jurisdiction can cause immense confusion. Tribal police, local police, and state police often overlap leading to no formal investigation due to so much focus falling on who should investigate. With little to no protection, native women are left vulnerable. There are countless cases of missing Indigenous women who seem to disappear without a trace. Their murders often go unsolved leaving their families with no answers and others left vulnerable in their wake. 

The official symbol and colors for the MMIW movement is a red hand that covers the mouth. The hand print symbolizes the silence on the issue with the stark contrast of the red that mimics blood. Red has become a central color in the movement, with many demonstrations only using the color red. Jaime Black, an artist, hung dozens of red dresses from tree branches for her REDress Project. Each dress symbolized a murdered or missing Indigenous woman. The dresses force the viewer to see that there is a person absent from that scene. It is a stark piece of art that has gained much coverage leading to more discussion on MMIW.

More must be done to protect and investigate crimes committed against Indigenous people. Indigenous women and girls are at a heightened risk for sexual violence. These risks stem from a lack of action. Violent perpetrators know they can get away with it because no one truly investigates. This ends now. The U.S. and Canada must do more to protect indigenous people. Colonialism has left so much violence in its wake and it falls directly on the American and Canadian government to write these wrongs. No more stolen sisters.

#NoMoreStolenSisters

#MMIWG

#MMIP

Additional Sources:

https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1448633299414/1534526479029

https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/

https://www.vogue.com/article/jaime-black-red-dress-project-missing-murdered-indigenous-women