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May 5 events honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women

Nora Mabie, Great Falls Tribune
·9 min read

Thursday, May 5 is a national day of awareness for the thousands of Indigenous people who go missing and are killed each year. It’s also Hanna Harris’ birthday. A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Hanna was killed in 2013. She would’ve turned 30 this year.

Her legacy prevails through Hanna's Act, which authorizes the Montana Department of Justice to assist local law enforcement in missing persons cases. Many honor Hanna and other Indigenous people and their families on May 5 by wearing red, decorating their homes with red lights, sharing stories on social media and attending community events.

Though Native Americans comprise about 6.7% of Montana's population, they comprise, on average, 26% of the state's missing persons population.

Below are some events — virtual and in-person — honoring missing and murdered Indigenous people on and around May 5.

Montana events:

GREAT FALLS

Red sand being spread across the sidewalks down Central Ave.
Red sand being spread across the sidewalks down Central Ave.

  • What: Community awareness campaign

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Where: 400 block of Central Ave.

  • Details: The Northcentral Montana Human Trafficking and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force will be dispersing red sand in the cracks of sidewalks to symbolize the many Indigenous women and girls who have "fallen through the cracks" and whose families are without justice. People are invited to help spread the sand around the community to help raise awareness.

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GREAT FALLS VISUAL AWARENESS

  • Great Falls Public Schools will hang student-made dresses near Paris Gibson Education Center (2400 Central Ave.) to bring awareness to the crisis.

  • The Center for Mental Health offices on the Hi-Line will display visual awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women near their offices.

FORT PECK

  • What: First annual day of recognition

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MDT

  • Where: Fort Peck Community College (605 Indian Ave., Poplar)

  • Details: Prayer walk from Poplar High School to Fort Peck Community College, beginning at 12:30 p.m., followed by Jason Gray Hawk Memorial Chair Ceremony. Speakers include Stacie Smith (Fort Peck Tribal Court Chief Judge), Elrod Johnson (special agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs office), leadership from Frazer School, Courtney Spotted Wolf (Brockton High School student) and Tahnee Thunderchild (Poplar High School student). There will be a performance by the Frazer School Youth Drum Group.

HARDIN

  • What: Rally demanding justice for Kaysera Stops Pretty Places and for other missing and murdered Indigenous people in Big Horn County.

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 11 a.m. MDT

  • Where: Front steps of the Big Horn County Courthouse (Old U.S. 87, Hardin)

  • Details: Kaysera, 18, went missing and was found dead in August 2019. Nearly three years later, Kaysera's cause of death remains undetermined and no arrests have been made in her case. "We will not stand by and watch this injustice play out in silence," said Yolanda Fraser, Kaysera's grandmother.

BOZEMAN

  • What: Day of events honoring missing and murdered Indigenous people

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MDT

  • Where: Montana State University American Indian Hall (6th and Garfield South, Bozeman)

  • Details: From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., attendees can participate in a self-guided tour of an exhibit on missing and murdered Indigenous women, data and advocacy work. At 10 a.m., attendees will hear from panelists Cheryl Horn, Nicholas Ross-Dick, Susan Stewart and Terrel Alden. At 11:45 a.m., there will be a prayer walk around campus; t-shirts will be available. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a jingle dress ceremony, and at 1 p.m., there will be a feed with bison stew and fry bread. Counselors will be available at 2 p.m. for a talking circle so participants can process and discuss the day's events.

MISSOULA

  • What: Recognition of the national day of awareness

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. MDT

  • Where: University of Montana campus oval (32 Campus Dr., Missoula)

  • Details: The event will include an honor song, elders' blessings, words from families and survivors with a candlelight vigil. Main Hall and the "M" will be lit up in red.

  • What: Missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness through art gallery opening

  • When: Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. MDT

  • Where: Zootown Arts Community Center (216 W Main St. Missoula)

  • Details: The gallery opening will feature work by Indigenous artists to make space for their expressions of the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis.

Virtual events:

Virtual race

Verna Volker created Native Women Running in 2018 to increase Indigenous visibility.
Verna Volker created Native Women Running in 2018 to increase Indigenous visibility.

  • What: Native Women Running is hosting a virtual race to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women. People can run, walk, bike, hike or do any movement to honor MMIW victims and their families.

  • When: May 5 through May 8

  • Details: Visit Nativewomenrunning.com/events to sign up and donate. Post a photo of yourself participating in the race and use the hashtags #MMIW or #MMIWG2S or #nativewomenrunning to show your support.

Virtual week of awareness

  • What: The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center is hosting a national week of action for missing and murdered Indigenous women with several virtual events.

  • When: April 29 through May 5

  • Details: April 29: Launch week of awareness and national briefing of crisis; May 2: uplifting Native Hawaiin women victims and survivors; May 3: spotlight Alaskan women; May 4: understanding international law and virtual race honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women; May 5: #MMIWActionNow Twitter storm, Twitter chat and an event uplifting voices of victims' families and survivors. For more information on these events, visit niwrc.org/mmiwnatlweek22.

Panel of experts

  • What: Native Girls Rock, an organization that empowers Native women and girls, is hosting a "Save our Sisters" virtual panel via Facebook Live

  • When: Tuesday, May 3 at 5 p.m. MDT

  • Details: Attendees will hear from Pamela Young-Jacobs (chairwoman of Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of North Carolina), Aminah Ghaffar (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), Joy Rector (Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of North Carolina) and Kristian Young (Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of North Carolina). Visit the Native Girls Rock Facebook page for more information.

Events elsewhere

ARIZONA

Juliet Hayes, a young Indigenous woman, presents "Say Her Name," a short film on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Big Horn County.
Juliet Hayes, a young Indigenous woman, presents "Say Her Name," a short film on missing and murdered Indigenous people in Big Horn County.

What: Navajo Nation missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives tribunalWhen: May 5-6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MSTWhere: Navajo Nation Museum (Hwy 264 and Loop Road, Window Rock, AZ)Details: Attendees will hear from victims' families and survivors. The public testimony will be recorded and sent to political leaders. The event also features film screenings of "Somebody's Daughter" and "Say Her Name."

CALIFORNIA

  • What: The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is hosting a lighting ceremony to honor victims and families.

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 5 p.m. PT

  • Where: San Diego County Administration Building (1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego)

  • Details: The building will be lit red to honor missing and murdered Indigenous people and guest speakers will address the audience. People are encouraged to wear red.

CANADA

  • What: 5k walk raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people.

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 3 p.m. PDT

  • Where: Prince George, BC, Canada

  • Details: Participants are encouraged to wear red and make signs. There will be an opening prayer and other speakers before the walk begins.

ILLINOIS

  • What: Red dress display and prayer gatherings to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT

  • Where: First United Methodist Church (1133 Main St. Mount Vernon, IL)

  • Details: Prayer gatherings will be held at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

MICHIGAN

  • What: March to honor missing relatives

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from noon to 3 p.m. EDT

  • Where: Ah-Nab-Awen Park (220 Front Avenue Northwest Grand Rapids, MI)

  • Details: The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians are hosting a march to honor missing relatives.

MINNESOTA

  • What: Community gathering and tower lighting

  • When: Thursday, May 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT

  • Where: City of Duluth Enger Tower (Enger Tower Dr.)

  • Details: The City of Duluth's Enger Tower will be lit red to honor victims and families.

NEW MEXICO

  • What: Hear about the state response plan to missing and murdered Indigenous women

  • When: Thursday, May 5

  • Where: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM)

  • Details: Join the New Mexico Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force to hear about the response plan to address the crisis.

NORTH CAROLINA

  • What: The MMIW North Carolina Coalition and Eastern Woodland Lacross are hosting the fourth annual rally for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

  • When: Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. EDT

  • Where: Northeast Park (3421 NE Park Dr., Gibsonville, NC)

  • Details: There will be speakers and performers at the event. For more information, email info@mmiwnc.com.

OHIO

  • What: "Why we wear red" workshop on missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis

  • When: Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. EDT

  • Where: Peaslee Neighborhood Center (215 East 14th St. Cincinnati, OH)

  • Details: Leilani Clark, Afro-Indigenous poet and activist, will help lead a workshop to build awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • What: Red candle vigil honoring missing and murdered Indigenous people

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. MDT

  • Where: 300 N. Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls, SD

  • Details: South Dakota Urban Indian Health is hosting a red candle vigil to bring awareness to the crisis and demand change. Participants will receive a red felt pin and a red candle to honor missing and murdered relatives.

WASHINGTON

  • What: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and Families is hosting a national day of awareness event, featuring speakers, traditional food vendors, t-shirts and dance.

  • When: Saturday, May 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT

  • Where: Othello Park (4351 S Othello St. Seattle, WA)

  • Details: Deborah Maytubee-Shipman, founder of MMIW USA, will be among the speakers at this event.

WISCONSIN

  • What: The Intertribal Student Council at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay campus is hosting a candlelight vigil to honor victims and families.

  • When: Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. CT

  • Where: University of Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix Park (2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI)

  • Details: People are encouraged to wear red.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: May 5 events honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women statewide