Restoration Magazine

A National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls

In response to the death of RoyLynn Rides Horse at the Crow Reservation in 2016, and the murder of Hanna Harris at the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 2013, last June the Montana Congressional Delegation called for the passage of a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Senator Steve Daines and Senator Jon Tester introduced a Senate resolution to designate May 5, 2017, the birthday of Hanna Harris, as the National Day of Awareness. Congressman Ryan Zinke also introduced a companion bill in the House. Over two hundred tribal, state, and national organizations support the resolution. 

In memory of Emily Blue Bird (Oglala Sioux Tribe) Lakota name Wicahpi Sakowin Win. Jered St. John is the artist who created the dress. Photo by Takes War Bonnett, Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains

Hanna Harris was 21 years old when she went missing on July 4, 2013. Due to the inadequate response of the justice system, her family and friends searched for Hanna. The community led a march for justice for Hanna and other unresolved murders of American Indian women. According to a U.S. Department of Justice study, in some tribal communities, American Indian women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide was the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women between 10 and 24 years of age and the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age. 

“The harsh reality of our lives as Native women is that we witness our sisters, mothers, daughters, and community members disappear and nothing is done,” said Lucy Simpson, Director of NIWRC. “The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center offers our prayers to all of the families of missing Native women and girls.”

 

Actions to Honor and Seek Justice for Missing and Murdered Native Women

October 26, 2016, Four Directions Walk, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation—More than 120 people gathered and walked from the four directions to an intersection on the reservation to bring awareness about murdered and missing Native women and domestic violence. Members of four families whose daughters, mothers, or sisters were either murdered or went missing led the walkers from the east, west, south, and north. The family members of Hanna Harris carried a silent witness in her honor (pictured above). Members of Jessie Waters’ family carried a banner and silent witness in her honor (pictured below). The red silhouettes of women are used as a national symbol to represent women who lost their lives to acts of domestic violence.

“We are working to educate and organize to address the pattern of missing and murdered Native women and girls in the United States,” said Cherrah Giles, Chair, NIWRC Board of Directors. “Turning our grief to action we strongly support the resolution to help shed light on the countless tragedies involving our Native sisters. We are calling on all those concerned to organize at the local, tribal, state, national, and international levels to bring this issue into the public’s awareness.” 

Indian tribes and communities are actively organizing vigils, walks, marches, and numerous awareness campaigns to honor missing and murdered Native women. The Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains (NWSGP), a tribal coalition of domestic violence programs, launched such a project last year to honor women who are missing and murdered. “We work with the family of the woman to create a traditional dress in her honor and place it in a memorial shadow box,” said Amanda Takes War Bonnet, Public Education Specialist for NWSGP. “This box was created in honor of Emily Blue Bird.”