The issue of missing Indigenous women in the United States and Canada is a distressing epidemic that demands urgent attention. As Lauren Thompson, co-founder of the organization Healing Our Sisters, poignantly stated, “Indigenous women go missing twice: once in reality and a second time in the media.” This sentiment underscores the tragic reality that Native women are being abducted and murdered at staggering rates, yet the conversation surrounding this crisis remains limited.
In April 2015, a grave incident occurred when Sarah Mitchell was kidnapped in Minnesota and transported to North Dakota. Fortunately, she managed to escape and report her ordeal to the local authorities; however, instead of receiving the help she needed, the police focused on her past, charging her with an outstanding traffic violation and detaining her. Such instances are not isolated; a troubling pattern emerged in northern Minnesota between May 2015 and January 2016, where three Indigenous women were murdered and two others vanished.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Native American and Black women face the highest murder rates in the U.S. Among young Native women aged 10-24, homicide is the third leading cause of death. Unfortunately, the official statistics fail to capture the true extent of the crisis, as many disappearances of Native women remain unresolved. Families often struggle to find answers after reporting their loved ones missing, and there is a prevailing assumption that once these women vanish, they are unlikely to be found alive.
Compounding this crisis is the absence of a comprehensive database to track missing and murdered Indigenous women. This lack of resources is not a new phenomenon; violence against Native women has historical roots stemming from colonialism and ongoing societal issues. With murder rates for Indigenous women being ten times the national average, the danger continues to escalate.
A significant contributor to this ongoing violence is the pervasive mistrust and communication barriers among law enforcement agencies—local, tribal, and federal. Data indicates that Native individuals are disproportionately affected by police violence, and tragically, Native women are frequently presumed guilty rather than being recognized as victims of violence. A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office revealed shortcomings in the collection of data related to human trafficking cases involving Native Americans, indicating that victim status often goes unrecorded.
Moreover, many Native women hesitate to participate in investigations due to a mistrust of law enforcement, which can be exacerbated by issues such as substance abuse often linked to domestic violence. As Carmen White, a member of the Lakota Nation and advocate for Indigenous women, emphasized, “Native women are not often perceived as deserving victims. We must first establish our innocence, proving we were not intoxicated or engaging in risky behavior.”
Awareness efforts are being spearheaded by organizations like the Coalition to End Violence Against Native Women, which is dedicated to shining a light on this critical issue. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement aims to mobilize communities and advocates to demand justice. For example, 19-year-old college student Mia Red Feather recently participated in an 80-mile awareness walk on the Flathead Indian Reservation, facing hostility from some onlookers while also receiving support from others.
There are various ways individuals can contribute to this cause. Engaging with local legislators to advocate for Savannah’s Act, which seeks to standardize law enforcement protocols for missing and murdered Native Americans, is crucial. Supporting initiatives like the Red Ribbon Alert Project is also beneficial; this app sends alerts when a Native woman goes missing. Donations to organizations dedicated to combating violence against Indigenous women can make a significant impact.
Finally, conversation is key. Raising awareness about the plight of these women is essential. Just because these tragic events are not reflected in statistics does not mean they do not exist. We must amplify this issue within our communities and on social media platforms. Native women may not appear on formal reports, but their stories deserve to be recognized and acted upon.
In summary, the alarming rate at which Indigenous women go missing and are murdered is a pressing issue that requires immediate action. Engaging in advocacy, supporting relevant organizations, and fostering discussions around this topic are all vital steps toward addressing this crisis.
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