May 5, 2024
Photo courtesy of Alethia Oatman
Indigenous communities have been struck by the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIW) for decades. This epidemic is a systemic failure where Indigenous women are going missing and being murdered at alarmingly high rates with minimal justice. Within the past several years, the MMIW movement has brought awareness of this violence to the public’s attention. Still, there is much work to be done.
On average, four out of five Indigenous women will experience violence in their lifetime. In some areas, the rates of Indigenous women being murdered is 10 times the national average (found at csvanw.org). This epidemic of violence against Indigenous women is devastating for their families and communities. Indigenous women have always been placed on a pedestal for being the creators and caretakers for each community, and losing even just one person is a loss in the language, culture and historical lineage.
As the MMIW movement continues to grow, there is hope that Indigenous families can find healing and justice. However, justice can only be found when the systemic barriers within the justice systems at the tribal, state and federal levels are addressed. Indigenous communities are advocating for federal policies to be put in place that would protect their nations’ sovereign rights over their people and homelands. Supporting legislative policies such as Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act are the first steps in addressing these systemic barriers.
Indigenous communities may find healing when the tragic situations of their loved ones are recognized on a national level, with a sense of urgency for the tragedy to be addressed. It is crucial for the survivors’ stories and voices to be heard so they can mourn with peace of mind, knowing justice will be served.
Some possible ideas to assist in the work of MMIW would be to use your own social media to bring awareness to everyone you know about the cases. You can also call the local law enforcement department working on the case to see what you might be able to do to bring awareness to the seriousness of the situation, perhaps calling local media sources and national media sources in the search for missing people.
You can find more information at the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women at csvanw.org.
Danelle Crawford McKinney and Madison McKinney, Co-Writers
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, May 5, 2024, the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Today’s Focus: National Day of Awareness & Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Rob Hagan, Ministry Relations Officer, Presbyterian Foundation
Patricia Haines, Executive Vice President, & Chief Benefits Officer, Board of Pensions
Let us pray
Creator From All Directions, we pray for strength and confidence for Indigenous women who feel invisible but need to know they are strong warriors, for your powerful hand to assist men when they feel helpless to protect and comfort families, and for all Indigenous people as they strive to teach the young people how to protect and prevent harm to their future communities. Help us to give them a voice and support them through our actions in areas where they need it the most. In your most holy name, we pray. Amen.
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