“Indigenous women go missing twice: once in reality and a second time in the media,” reflects the poignant words of Ava Harper, a co-founder of the advocacy group, Voices for Our Sisters. This statement encapsulates the ongoing crisis affecting Native women in both the United States and Canada, where alarming rates of abduction and homicide go largely unreported and unacknowledged.
This discussion is crucial, and it demands our immediate attention.
In a distressing incident from April 2015, a young woman named Lydia Monroe was abducted in Minnesota and taken to North Dakota. Fortunately, she escaped and approached the authorities to report her ordeal. Shockingly, instead of receiving help, the police focused on her past legal issues, detaining her for an unpaid traffic violation from 2011. Sadly, this story is not an isolated case. In northern Minnesota alone, three Native American women lost their lives, and two others vanished between May 2015 and January 2016.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Native American and Black women face the highest murder rates in the country. For Native women aged 10 to 24, homicide ranks as the third leading cause of death. Yet, these statistics do not encompass the many missing Native women whose cases remain unresolved. Often, families and friends report their loved ones as missing to local or tribal law enforcement, yet answers remain elusive. There is a prevailing assumption that when Native women disappear, they are unlikely to be found alive.
Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive system or database to track the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. This lack of infrastructure is not due to the novelty of the issue; violence against Native women has been a persistent problem throughout history, from colonial invasions to domestic violence within communities. With a murder rate ten times the national average, the danger faced by Native women is a grim reality.
One major contributing factor to this crisis is the mistrust and poor communication between local law enforcement, tribal authorities, and federal agencies. Native individuals are more likely to face lethal force from police than any other minority group in the U.S. Furthermore, Native women are often presumed guilty rather than seen as victims, complicating their situations.
A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office highlighted the shortcomings in investigations related to human trafficking in Indigenous communities. While federal agencies may collect data, they often fail to note whether victims are Native American, claiming it does not impact their investigations. This oversight, coupled with a reluctance among Native victims to engage with local law enforcement—often stemming from historical trauma and distrust—leaves many cases unaddressed.
“Native women are frequently viewed as undeserving victims. We must first prove that we are innocent and not out partying or intoxicated,” shares Tara White, a member of the Dakota Nation and coordinator for the Indigenous Women’s Advocacy Coalition. Her organization aims to safeguard women and raise awareness in their communities.
I, too, was unaware of the extent of the risks faced by Native women and children in Canada and the United States. Fortunately, organizations like the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women are bravely working to elevate this issue. One of their initiatives, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement, aims to shine a light on these injustices.
Recently, a college student, Emily Redfeather, undertook an 80-mile march through the Flathead Indian Reservation to raise awareness for MMIW. While she faced hostility, including racial abuse, many others expressed their desire to support her cause.
There are actionable steps we can take to assist in this fight. Engaging with local legislators to advocate for Savannah’s Act is essential. This proposed legislation would standardize law enforcement protocols and ensure the Department of Justice provides necessary support to tribes, allowing for better tracking of missing and murdered Native Americans.
Additionally, you can support the Red Ribbon Alert Project, which sends alerts through its app when a Native woman goes missing. Liking their page on Facebook enables you to share alerts within your community. Financial contributions to organizations like the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women or similar groups dedicated to ending violence against Indigenous individuals can also make a significant impact.
Most importantly, we must speak out about these issues. Discuss the alarming rates of violence against Native women, even if these cases are not formally recorded. Bring awareness to this dire situation through conversations and social media, as these individuals deserve recognition and action.
These women may not appear in statistics, but they should resonate in our collective consciousness every day. It’s time to take action—now.
Summary
This article addresses the alarming rates of violence and disappearance of Native women in the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the systemic issues contributing to this crisis. Key factors include distrust in law enforcement, a lack of data collection, and a societal tendency to overlook these victims. Advocacy groups are working tirelessly to raise awareness and push for legal reforms, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and support.