Across the U.S., Alaska, and Canada, Indigenous women and girls are being taken and murdered at an unrelenting rate. For decades, Indigenous communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of women. Sisters, wives, mothers, and daughters are gone without clear answers.
Congress have put unethical laws and regulations into place for Indigenous people for years. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Indigenous people have been deprived of their right to self-governance, reservations have been destroyed through land distribution, and tribes have been disintegrating.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs mentions that “[Indigenous] Americans who are identified as mixed-race have to give up their tribal status and others [are] detribalized.” This greatly damages the identity of Indigenous people. No one is any less than if they are mixed race.
While women and girls are the primary victims of violence and human trafficking among Indigenous people, they are not alone. People of all ages and sexes are victims of these horrific crimes, including men, boys, infants, and the elderly.
Native Hope states thta “82% of Indigenous men are victims” of these dreadful acts. Poverty and homelessness are part of this victimization. Also, historical factors such as racism, sexism, and the legacy of imperialism leave them as targets.
The surrounding community of Winnipeg has been pushing law enforcement to search the privately owned Prairie Green Landfill north of the Winnipeg area, as it is believed that there are the remaining bodies of Indigenous individuals. Police believe the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are in the landfill.
Jeremy Skibicki currently faces first-degree murder charges for their deaths, as well as for the death of Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found last year at the Brady Road Landfill south of Winnipeg.
Many worry that not searching for the women would cause distress to their families and send the wrong message to others around the world. The study said it could take up to three years and cost around $184 million for searchers to work through the piles of hazardous materials. This is only one of hundreds of more gruesome cases. The injustice that Indigenous people continue to suffer through is horrendous, and it needs to come to an end.
Indigenous individuals and allies have led numerous protests and marches to raise awareness and amplify Indigenous voices. They use phrases such as “no more stolen sisters,” “you are not forgotten,” and”Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW),” along withmany more.
A red hand over the mouth has become the symbol of the MMIW movement. It stands for all silnced voices and the inaction of the media and law enforcement.
Sarah Coat, part of the Sioux Oglala tribe that originated in South Dakota, stresses that “it’s generation after generation; it is a disgrace that these acts keep happening to innocent people. No one should have to grieve their sister, mother, daughter, or friends from such horrific acts.”
Not many know of the genocide going on in the Indigenous community. It cannot be stressed enough that we need to make a change. Everyone’s life matters and should not end because others have hate in their hearts.
We must bring this to an end. If you want to help or support, you can visit Native Hope. They have several resources, such as donation links, updates on protests, and hundreds of stories of indigenous cases.
Supporters can also donate to funds like Indigenous Action, Native American Rights Fund, and the Hopi Relief Fund.
Hello, I´m Aiyana. I´m a senior working my first year along side the 42fifty staff here at Oswego High School.
Such important and impactful writing, amazing job on this one Aiyana!