May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for our Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR). On this day, we remember our stolen relatives, and honor those who are still missing. May 5 also serves as a call to action at the national level, for intervention at both the state and federal level to the epidemic of our missing & murdered relatives.
There is limited but growing data and information about MMIWR. More and more attention is being given to the issue by local, state, Tribal, and federal programs to help solve cold cases and intercede in better and more timely ways than in the past. Yet, so many families, people, and communities are still in pain that comes with not knowing or not being heard. Media still often ignores or provides minimal attention to MMIR, both as a whole and when people go missing.
According to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, “On some reservations, Native women face murder rates more than ten times the national average,” with many of these disappearances and murder often being linked directly to sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking.
But together, change can happen. On the local level, education and awareness is essential to shifting and expanding the understanding of MMIWR. Organizations and systems need to rethink policies and practices around response and community engagement. Policy reform is essential; we have made positive strides including the creation of MMIWR offices and taskforces in a growing number of states and within various federal agencies. Collective action will help to both bring answers and healing to families, as well as hopefully work to prevent people from going missing or being taken from us.
On May 5th, we remember, we honor, and we demand justice for our stolen relatives.
Check out some of the below events to take action for MMIWR:
White Earth DOVE Program MMIP Awareness Speakers & Poster Making—Mahnomen, MN
White Earth DOVE Program MMIP Awareness Day Event & Walk—Mahnomen, MN
Annual National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives—Duluth, MN
MMIW Walk—Grand Forks, ND
AKNWRC’s Alaska MMIW Week of Awareness—Virtual Events
NIWRC 2025 National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives—Virtual Events
Native Women Run MMIW Unity Run—Phoenix, AZ
Native Women Run 5k for MMIW—Minneapolis, MN
Pouhana O Nā Wāhine MMIW Week of Awareness
Seven Dancers Coalition MMIP Walk—Albany, NY
Wićozani Wastè Collective MMIR Event—Sioux Falls, SD