Choose one thing to read, watch, listen to, do, or engage with today. Try to mix it up each day between the categories!

READ

Native American women face an epidemic of violence. A legal loophole prevents prosecutions Limits on tribal prosecutions have worsened the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, experts say. Congress is weighing a fix. by Graham Lee Brewer NBC News (2021)

Ending Violence Against Native Women The number of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women and the lack of a diligent and adequate federal response is extremely alarming to indigenous women, tribal governments, and communities. On some reservations, indigenous women are murdered at more than ten times the national average. Indian Law Resource Center

WATCH

The Truth Behind the Legend of Pocahontas Tai Leclaire (Kanien'kehá:ka Mohawk and Mi'kmaq) explores the deep-rooted connection between the myth of Pocahontas and the ongoing MMIWG2S crisis. PBS: A People's History (2023) 9 minutes T CC

Tribal VAWA: Much Remains Undone Tribes that have implemented special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction describe a number of areas where additional Congressional action would improve implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA. National Congress of American Indians (2015) 7 minutes T CC

Running for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Rosalie Fish, a member of the Cowlitz Tribe and competitive runner, shares how she uses the sport to bring attention to the alarming epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. TEDxYouth@Seattle (2020) 10 minutes T CC

LISTEN

The Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women From Across The U.S. Annita Lucchesi shares her report looking at missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in 71 cities across the U.S. She found an alarming lack of data. NPR: Weekend Edition (2018) 4 minutes T

Media Fascination With The Petito Mystery Looks Like Racism To Some Native Americans The mystery around the death of a photogenic young white woman with a carefree social media presence becomes headline news across the country. NPR: All Things Considered ( 2021) 2 minutes T

Understanding the Connections of Land and Body Violence Speaking Our Truth: Podcast for Change (2024) 39 minutes

Savanna’s Act and AK Tribal Jurisdiction The state of Alaska is considered one of the most violent states in the country. The state also has the highest number of missing Indigenous people, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Speaking Our Truth: Podcast for Change (2022) 22 minutes

BRING IT HOME

Read or review a book from this website on Red Dress Day. Appropriate for grades 7-12.

Review how Red Dress Day began.

Watch Missing Nimama by Melanie Florence (2021) narrated by Terri Galligos with pronunciation support from Nancy Lafleur.

Raising awareness at Ponkapoag Veterans’ Pow Wow in Canton (photo by Claudia A. Fox Tree)

DO

Add to your calendar May 5th - National Awareness Day for #MMIWG

Look at Jaime Black’s website. What is the Red Dress Project?

Would you consider hanging a red dress outside your home (why/ why not)?

7 Actions to Take for National Day of Awareness for #MMIWG | Cultural Survival

EXPLORE & REFLECT

Explore and reflect on one or both of the below websites. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR) NIWRC

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women #MMIW

Choose one thing to read, watch, listen to, do, or engage with today. Try to mix it up each day between the categories!