Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

Across the United States, there is a crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) where Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people in North America suffer disproportionately high rates of disappearance and homicide. The roots of this crisis are intertwined with colonization, forced assimilation, and the erosion of Indigenous sovereignty. This has led to increased systemic risk factors for experiencing violence and abuse among Indigenous women and girls, including poverty and lack of housing, involvement in the child welfare system and criminal justice system, being a victim of domestic violence, and sex trafficking.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Indigenous women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average in some communities. Indigenous women and girls are also disproportionately affected by violence, abduction, and disappearance. In Minnesota, as many as 54 Indigenous women and girls were reported missing in any given month from 2012 to 2020. Despite making up just 1% of the state's population, Indigenous people accounted for 8% of all murdered girls and women in Minnesota from 2010 to 2019.

There is an urgent need to address systemic issues and advocate for greater awareness and action to prevent further injustices. You can get involved in the following ways:

• Acknowledge the Historical Context: Recognize the historical injustices and systemic oppression that have contributed to the crisis of MMIW. Learn more about the U’s land grant legacy and displacement of Dakota and Ojibwe tribes.
• Support Indigenous-Led Initiatives: Amplify Indigenous women's and communities' voices leading efforts to address MMIW.
• Organizations like the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) and Native Hope elevate grassroots advocates' voices to combat violence against Indigenous women.
• Educate and Raise Awareness: Foster education and awareness.
• Read the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force report to the Minnesota Legislature.
• May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls, which aims to raise awareness about the alarming rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls. It also is a day to honor and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
• Read Unveiling the ongoing Tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Law Journal for Social Justice)
• Take Action: Learn how to get involved through the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.