The "Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" Movement
Kira Szilva
Introduction
The topic I have chosen is the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement, or “MMIWG”. Justin Trudeau established the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada in September 2016, after public demand for around a decade in the name of the thousands of cases of missing Indigenous girls unsolved or improperly looked into. In both the United States and Canada, Native women are more than twice as likely to fall victim to violent crimes than any other demographic. My interest in this topic stems from the #MMIW movement sparked on Twitter and TikTok, where Native women would share their own stories and cover themselves in red handprints to symbolize their fallen sisters. Native Americans have been mistreated since Christopher Columbus stepped foot on this land in 1492 and stole it in the name of conquest for Europe. The social justice themes that relate to my topic are Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Solidarity; and Call to Family, Community, and Participation.
Want to Learn More About the Movement?
If you would like to learn more on your own about the MMIW movement in both the United States and Canada, visit the sites below.
Their Mission: "MMIW USA’s number one mission is to bring our missing home and help the families of the murdered cope and support them through the process of grief... Our strength lies in the fact that every single one of the staff and volunteers have been assaulted or trafficked and our passion is to be the kind of organization that we needed growing up and beyond."
"Red is the official color of the #MMIW campaign, but it goes deep and has significant value. In various tribes, red is known to be the only color spirits see. It is hoped that by wearing red, we can call back the missing spirits of our women and children so we can lay them to rest... we chose a turquoise teardrop earring to represent our sorrow and tears. Turquoise is worn for protection by many tribes to ward off evil spirits, but it's also a symbol of strength and prosperity. May our women and children prosper and be kept safe."
Resources
On this site you can find resources for non-Native and Native people alike to reach out about abuse, educate themselves on the MMIWG movement, toolkits for healing after trauma, articles and reports on government proceedings, and anything else you need to know about the movement and how you can help or get help.
