Latest news with #MinnesotaIndianWomen'sSexualAssaultCoalition
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Duluth, Superior mark National Day of Awareness for Missing, Murdered Indigenous People
Family and friends hold posters of missing and murdered Indigenous people on May 5, 2025 in Duluth | Photo by Frank Zufall/Wisconsin Examiner On Monday, May 5, near Duluth City Hall, the mayors of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin gathered with tribal members from the two states to offer their support for the 5th Annual National Day of Awareness for Missing, Murdered, Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR). The May 5th event was one of many held in Wisconsin and around the nation to highlight the crises plaguing Native American communities. Tribal members face violence, both domestic and outside their families, at a higher rate than the general population. Several factors contribute to the MMIWR phenomenon including the fact that missing people belong to a vulnerable population that has suffered historical trauma and is disproportionately affected by poverty and substance abuse; exploitation associated with itinerant workers in mining and oil camps near reservations; and an inconsistent track record of law enforcement committing resources to solve murders or finding missing person. 'On this day, we remember our stolen relatives and honor those who are still missing,' the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition said in a statement. 'May 5 also serves as a call to action at the national level, for intervention at both the state and federal levels to the epidemic of our missing & murdered relatives.' Tribal members, including many holding posters of missing or murdered people, represented family and friends. Ian Martin is the nephew of Peter Martin, a Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribal member who went missing from the Minnesota reservation in March 2024. Ian noted that May 5 was Peter's 33rd birthday. 'After this week, we're going to be starting up our search parties again,' said Ian. 'That consists of looking through acres of woods, acres of properties. We have set up meetings with the agencies working this case and tips and leads are still being followed up on, and the investigation is still ongoing.' Ian said there is no solid theory why his uncle went missing. 'When a relative disappears from us or is taken from us, it creates a lot of unresolved grief, a lot of incomplete relationships,' he said. 'Our family wishes day and night that he comes home.' He continued, 'I don't have a solution to this MMIR issue in Indian Country, but I do have advice. The best advice is that care of one another. There's only a handful of us, Indian people on this world. Remember to take care of your well-being.' The mother of Chantel Moose, 25, a Native American murdered April 12, 2024 in Duluth also spoke. 'This year has been hard,' said Shauna Moose, speaking in a trembling voice. 'Hoping and praying for justice for her.' Rene Ann Goodrich, a MMIWR advocate who organized the event, noted that the trial is set for the man accused of killing Chantel. 'The family has just completed their first memorial,' said Goodrich. 'Now is the time that they're seeking justice, and they need support from the community…and we want the family to know that we're here with you. We're here for the duration.' Tony Mainville, a tribal member from Northern Minnesota and the uncle of Jeremy Jourdan, 16, who went missing on Halloween 2016, spoke of the family's pain of missing the young man and their determination not to stop looking for him. Steve Woodworth, a Leech Lake Tribal Member, filled out information at the event about his sister, Melissa Woodworth, who has been missing since December 2020. Steve said during a RV trip that Melissa's boyfriend said she walked away in a town in Iowa, a town the boyfriend couldn't remember, and she has never been heard from again. Steve said he was the one who had reported his sister missing, and as the only remaining sibling, he had been working with the FBI and the Minnesota, Murdered, Indigenous. Relative (MMIR) Office. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Thousands to march to honor missing and murdered Indigenous people
MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of people are expected to march Friday in Minneapolis to honor missing and murdered Indigenous people. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives March will start at the Minneapolis American Indian Center at 11 a.m., with speakers from the community. People will then march to ensure the memory of the missing women, girls, men, boys, two-spirit and LGBTQI+ relatives is kept alive. Indigenous women account for less than 1% of Minnesota's population but make up about 10% of missing women in the state. Indigenous men are also overrepresented, state officials say. "We use this day as a time to increase visibility of this issue, call on legislators and policy makers to be accountable to our communities, and to honor our families and relatives who have been impacted," said Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition Executive Director Nicole Matthews. "I look forward to the day when we no longer need rallies like this, because we will have ended this violence against our people. But until will take up space in the streets and continue to call for action." Last year, 716 Indigenous people went missing in Minnesota; 57% were women. In 2021, Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation that created the country's first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office. In 2024, the office provided services to 28 families and consulted on 10 additional cases. Four cases were closed when a victim was found safe or was located, officials say. To help raise awareness about missing Indigenous relatives, Minnesotans can purchase a MMIR license plate, which supports the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Account, that considers rewards for tips that lead to a resolution of a missing or murdered Indigenous relative's case.
