{"id":16387,"date":"2021-09-30T19:10:48","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T23:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=16387"},"modified":"2021-09-30T19:10:48","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T23:10:48","slug":"our-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-relatives-deserve-attention-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/09\/30\/our-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-relatives-deserve-attention-and-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives deserve attention and resources"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/05\/for-too-long-native-women-have-been-stolen-from-their-communities\/mmiw-5\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11190\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-attachment-id=\"11190\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/05\/05\/for-too-long-native-women-have-been-stolen-from-their-communities\/mmiw-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/05\/mmiw-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Justice for Kozee \/ MMIW\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Native women take part a Justice for Kozee rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 15, 2020, in support of Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old Ho-Chunk Nation woman who was murdered on the Winnebago Reservation. Photo by &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;Kevin Abourezk&lt;\/A&gt; &lt;A href=&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk&quot;&gt;&lt;I aria-hidden=true class=&quot;fab fa-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;\/I&gt;&lt;\/A&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/05\/mmiw-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/05\/mmiw-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Justice for Kozee \/ MMIW\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-11190\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Native women take part a Justice for Kozee rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 15, 2020, in support of Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old Ho-Chunk Nation woman who was murdered on the Winnebago Reservation. Photo by <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Joint Indigenous Organizations Statement About Gabby Petito Case<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Thursday, September 30, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\"> By StrongHearts Native Helpline, Alaska Native Women\u2019s Resource Center, National Indigenous Women\u2019s Resource Center and  Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSeveral weeks of national mainstream news media coverage has been focused on Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old white woman who recently was reported missing and subsequently found murdered. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWe offer our sincere condolences to her family. No one should have to experience this kind of tragedy exacerbated by noted indicators of <a href=https:\/\/strongheartshelpline.org\/abuse\/what-is-domestic-violence>domestic violence<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWe are national Indigenous organizations dedicated to ending the cycle of violence that adversely affects <a href=https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/249822.pdf)>84% of Indigenous women<\/a> (Rosay, Andr\u00e9 B.) during their lifetime. Indigenous women are murdered at a rate <a href=https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/grants\/223691.pdf>10 times higher<\/a> (Bachman, Ronet) than other races in some communities. <a href=https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/249822.pdf>More than half<\/a> have been physically abused by an intimate partner, according to the National Institute of Justice.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe loss of an Indigenous woman\u2019s life is all too familiar in our communities. Hundreds of Indigenous people go missing every year. Many of them vanish without a trace, never to be seen or heard from again. Too many of them are found murdered with their cases often left uninvestigated and unresolved by local, state and\/or federal authorities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_twitter-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/strongheartsdv\/status\/1443231629644812293\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15\/image-76.png\" alt=\"Post Not Found - X | 404 Error\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/strongheartsdv\/status\/1443231629644812293\">\n\t\t\tPost Not Found &#8211; X | 404 Error\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/strongheartsdv\/status\/1443231629644812293\">\n\t\t\t<p>The post you&#8217;re looking for could not be found or may have been deleted.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"X (formerly Twitter)\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nYet, none of our relatives to date have received much, if any, attention from the news media, concentrated efforts by law enforcement departments, or an outpouring of financial contributions from ordinary citizens. Indian tribes, communities and family members don\u2019t have unlimited financial resources to help us locate our missing relatives. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nUp until recently, our missing relatives have not amassed social media followings to galvanize searches. The contrast that we are witnessing regarding this particular case is heartbreaking to the many Indigenous families and communities dealing with the daily pain of losing their loved ones. The contrast sends the message that society has little regard for Indigenous lives.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nWe are not alone in seeing systemic and law enforcement bias when it comes to the lack of coverage of and case resolutions of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives (MMIR). In 2004 this lack of attention and bias was given a title \u2014 \u201cMissing White Woman Syndrome\u201d \u2014 by the late American news anchor Gwen Ifill. Moreover, American news outlets continue to be less demographically diverse, with staffing consisting of primarily white male journalists, according to the <a href=https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2020\/04\/28\/10-charts-about-americas-newsrooms\/>Pew Research Center<\/a>. The lack of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) journalists in the mainstream contributes to additional challenges that Indigenous people face when it comes to equal coverage of MMIR and other related issues.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIt is truly devastating to lose another life to violence. There are no words to fully express the pain of a parent losing a child in a violent way. As Indigenous peoples, we understand too well the ugly, ongoing nature of violence across this land and upon our people through our lived experiences. It\u2019s been happening since the <a href=https:\/\/strongheartshelpline.org\/abuse\/colonization-and-domestic-violence>advent of colonization<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nMissing and murdered Indigenous relatives deserve the same attention and resources that society, the media and the justice system have given to Gabby Petito\u2019s case. Their lives are important. As partner organizations in the effort to provide support and advocate for Indigenous women and peoples impacted by domestic violence, intimate partner violence, dating violence, and sexual violence, we honor all individuals, families and communities impacted by MMIR and all those working so diligently to end this crisis of violence.\r\n<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">What you can do to help<\/div>\r\n<strong> For Individuals<\/strong><BR> \r\n \r\n \u25cf      Educate yourself on the high rates of violence in our Indigenous communities and other communities of color, as well as community-based solutions<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Engage with media about MMIR<p><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\u25cb      Send emails, make phone calls, comment on articles, send letters to editors, etc.\r\n <\/ul>\r\n \u25cf      Learn about and share the stories of MMIR in your area, including their names, and the circumstances of their cases, etc.<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Learn who your law enforcement are in your community and educate yourself on cross-jurisdictional issues<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Donate to organizations advocating for justice for MMIR and ending domestic violence <p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Raise awareness on social media: like, follow and share the organizations listed below that are focused on domestic violence and MMIR at the national, regional and local levels\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/strongheartshelpline.org\/>StrongHearts Native Helpline<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.niwrc.org\/>National Indigenous Women\u2019s Resource Center<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.aknwrc.org\/>Alaska Native Women\u2019s Resource Center<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.ncai.org\/>National Congress of American Indians<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      Sovereign Bodies Institute<BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=http:\/\/www.atcev.org\/>Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.aknwrc.org\/>Indian Law Resource Center<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.uihi.org\/>Urban Indian Health Institute<\/a><BR>\r\n\u25cb      <a href=https:\/\/www.risinghearts.org\/>Rising Hearts Coalition<\/a><BR>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n \u25cf      Learn how to support loved one, friend or colleague struggling against intimate partner<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Learn about and practice bystander intervention<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Learn how to hold batters, predators and other offenders accountable<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Volunteer at organizations working to respond to and end domestic violence<p><\/p>\r\n \u25cf      Attend, support or organize a socially distanced community event in your area to raise awareness of MMIR. Organizers can plan a community walk or run, vigil or any type of fundraiser\/awareness event they choose.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">For Organizations <\/div>\r\n\u25cf      Center BIPOC voices on your platforms<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Practice unbiased, equitable attention on all missing and murdered people<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Uplift Indigenous organizations and coalitions advocating for MMIR<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Support May 5th annually as the National Day of Awareness for MMIW\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Additional Resources<\/div>\r\nCheck out these MMIW resources: \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Learn more with <a href=http:\/\/www.niwrc.org\/resources\/special-collection-missing-murdered-indigenous-women-girls>MMIW Special Collection in NIWRC\u2019s Resource Library<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Explore the <a href=http:\/\/www.niwrc.org\/resources\/tribal-community-response-when-woman-missing-toolkit-action>MMIW Toolkit for Families and Communities developed by NIWRC<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      View the <a href=https:\/\/www.sovereign-bodies.org\/mmiw-database>MMIW database on Sovereign Bodies Institute website<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Download <a href=http:\/\/www.uihi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Missing-and-Murdered-Indigenous-Women-and-Girls-Report.pdf>Urban Indian Health Institute\u2019s \u201cMissing and Murdered Indigenous Women &#038; Girls: A Snapshot of Data from 71 Urban Cities in the United States\u201d<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      View the <a href=https:\/\/namus.gov\/>NamUS-National Missing and Unidentified Persons System<\/a>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u25cf      Explore the <a href=http:\/\/www.niwrc.org\/resources>NIWRC\u2019s Online Resource Library and Restoration Magazine for articles and resources on MMIW<\/a>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">References<\/div>\r\nRosay, Andr\u00e9 B., \u201cViolence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men,\u201d NIJ Journal 277 (2016): 38-45, available at <a href=http:\/\/nij.gov\/journals\/277\/Pages\/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx>http:\/\/nij.gov\/journals\/277\/Pages\/violence-againstamerican-indians-alaska-natives.aspx<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p> \r\nBachman, Ronet; Zaykowski, Heather; Kallmyer, Rachel; Poteyeva, Margarita; Lanier, Christina, \u201cViolence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and the Criminal Justice Response: What is Known\u201d, NIJ (2008): 223691, available at <a href=https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/grants\/223691.pdf>https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/grants\/223691.pdf<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The loss of an Indigenous woman\u2019s life is all too familiar in our communities. 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