Restoration Magazine

The Red Dress Gala

By Kendra Kloster, Tribal Citizen of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Co-Director of Law & Policy, Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center

The MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group Hosted the First Red Dress Gala to Bring Awareness of MMIWG2S

MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group members at the Red Dress Gala. / Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill.

 

In January, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S) Alaska Working Group hosted its first Red Dress Gala in Anchorage, Alaska. The Gala brought together more than 200 attendees from all parts of Alaska, plus some friends and relatives in the lower 48. The event focused on raising awareness and increasing the MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group’s ability to do more through community support and to uplift, honor, and support the community and individuals who have been addressing these efforts for decades.

In a sea of red and regalia in a packed room, with friends and family showing solidarity to support the continued efforts of the MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group, we also had the honor and privilege to recognize other Indigenous leaders on the frontlines of this work. Shirley Lee has led dozens of justice initiatives in the Fairbanks region for decades, including justice for the Fairbanks Four. Abigail Echohawk led the first MMIW report in the nation through her leadership at the Urban Indian Health Institute. Dr. Michael Livingston, retired law enforcement, has led research and data in their region and developed healthy family initiatives. Ingrid Cumberlidge-Goodyear has served as Alaska’s MMIP Coordinator under the US Attorney’s Office and coordinated statewide efforts across sectors.

The MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group was created from the calls of Indigenous communities and families for action to end the violence, heal together, spread the word about what is happening across Alaska,and bring people together to make change. Over the last six years of work, the Working Group has seen partnerships grow. It continues to raise awareness, address policy issues, and provide education across the state to end this crisis.

The MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group recognizes that colonization is the key element to what spurred and created the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women—the very idea of Native people being less than human, allowing and encouraging the mistreatment, the acts of taking our children away to boarding schools, to the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, and the attempt to strip away culture, language, and traditions. The work continues the efforts of Indigenous giants who paved the way for our voices to be heard.

 

Ilakus Dance Group performing at the Red Dress Gala. Photo courtesy of Brandon Hill and Maka Monture.

“Everyone deserves to be safe, to live free from violence and without fear our children will become victims. We will do everything in our power to end the MMIP crisis. However, it is the responsibility of every person and entity to do their part, to work together, and to support our Indigenous people, non-profits, and Tribes who are leading the effort to create safer communities and end the high rates of violence happening to Alaska Native/American Indian people.”—Kendra Kloster, AKNWRC Co-Director of Law & Policy.

Gunalcheesh/Quyana/Mahsi Choo/Thank you to our relatives nationwide for your advocacy, leadership, and unwavering dedication, which inspires us and many others.

To learn more about the MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group, please visit its website at www.mmiwg2salaska.org.