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Events took place across the country over the weekend to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP).
Some events are continuing Monday, including a walk hosted by the Yurok Tribe in California.
The tribe has declared an emergency on its reservation in response to disproportionate numbers of MMIP.
The Yurok Tribe works year-round on the issue.
Earlier this year, the tribe co-hosted a summit in Sacramento and a march around the California State Capitol.
Phillip Williams is a Yurok Tribal council member.
“This issue, you know, we were dealing with this, we’re having some of our people being kidnapped, and we had a rash of murders that showed up on our reservation, people that I know. And we all agreed we had to do something about it.”
One of those things was creating the summit.
“I think one of the biggest effectiveness of this summit is that all us Indn people get together. And so we’re trying to raise awareness and say we’re here, and we need to be valued, our lives need to valued and we need opportunities to succeed.”
Danielle Vigil-Masten is an advocate and works on MMIP issues with North Coast California communities.
She joined families, tribal leaders, law enforcement and others at the summit saying it’s vital to continue to raise awareness.
“If we don’t talk about these cases and share their stories and keep it alive, then it’s like it just goes away. It’s like it doesn’t exist and people out of sight, out of mind, you know. That’s why we put billboards up. That’s why we educate people. That’s why we put signs everywhere. Back in the old days, they used to have the milk cartons that everyone would see when they ate cereal. Now it’s Facebook. And so, we just try to get that out there. These, it’s these types of events are really important.”
MMIP advocacy day at the California State Capitol in February
Raising awareness of MMIP includes educating policy makers about the history of California Native Americans and the impacts of colonization, says Morning Star Gali, director of Indigenous Justice.
“We’re right here at the state Capitol, where the state of California was founded on the state sanctioned murder and genocide of California Native peoples. Close by is the what is known as Sutter’s Fort, where it was our Miwok, and tribal peoples were enslaved there, they were held captive…recognizing the history of California and how that still continues to affect us today.”
Officials say MMIP is going in the wrong direction in the state with cases going up instead of down, which is concerning tribal leaders who vow to continue to raise awareness and seek solutions.
Joseph L. James is chairman of the Yurok Tribe.
“California is, you know, unfortunately, we are the fifth largest cases of MMIP in the nation. We’re trying to say no more, lawmakers. Hear us, see us, not on our watch, not on California’s watch, not on Indigenous watch. There’s a crisis in California, but it’s not a California issue. This is a nation issue. And we’re trying to ring that bell by bringing them to the table.”
Leaders and advocates say there is still much work to do, including healing for families and tribal communities.
This story is a collaboration with First Nations Experience Television with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
The U.S. Justice Department recognized May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.
In recognition, Attorney General Merrick Garland said there is much more work to do by the agency to tackle MMIP and human trafficking in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
In a statement, he said the day challenged the Justice Department to double down on efforts and be true partners with Tribal communities.
The agency highlighted a MMIP outreach program with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and coordinators to assist with unresolved cases and related crimes, promote communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement.
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