Hey auntie, I keep seeing MMIW and I was wondering if you can explain that? Thanks!
It’s to bring awareness to the disproportionate rates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) in the US and Canada Homicide is the third leading cause of death for indigenous women ages 10 to 24.
A major problem is that Indigenous women are often misclassified
Groups like MMIW USA hold events like powwow’s or talks, or individuals like 19-year-old Marita Growing Thunder raised awareness by walking 80 miles and created 180 dresses, one for every day of her senior year, to honor missing and murdered indigenous women.
Youth like GrowingThunder believe that young people can make a difference. “The youth have a lot of power. Not just politically, but just for humanity in general. I didn’t realize I had this much power… I think people underestimate their own power.”
When it comes to keeping each other and ourselves safe:
- Speak Up if you see anything unusual or concerning
- Be Alert to your surroundings
- Stick to the Buddy System
What you can do:
If you’re interested in hosting your own event to raise awareness around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, apply for We R Native’s Community Service Min-grant. Just go to the website and go to my impact page to apply.
Thanks for the question!
Auntie Manda
