MMIWG 2021 National Week of Action

“As a mother, nothing will replace the loss of my daughter, but by organizing to support the National Day of Awareness and creating the changes needed, I know it will help others. And Hanna and so many others will not be forgotten.”—Malinda Limberhand, Mother of Hanna Harris, Honored by the National Day of Awareness Senate Proclamation

Since 2017, actions on May 5th to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) at the local, regional, and national level continue to grow across the United States and internationally. These efforts are as varied as the Indian Nations and Indigenous communities where they are being organized. The silence, tolerance, and inaction in response to the crisis of MMIWG is being challenged by Native families, advocates, and Indian tribes.

In 2021, a full week of national events will call the nation and the world to action to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. We invite all those concerned to join these events, and we support your efforts to organize events during the National Week of Action and on May 5th, the National Day of Awareness.

This year can mark the year the government’s “no action response” is changed to a “yes, crisis-mode response.”

Please help spread the word and join the following activities:

• VIEW full list of events at niwrc.org/mmiwgnatlweek21.

  • Monday, May 3, 2021

    • Webinar—Nā Hānauna Ho'ōla (Healing Generations), 8 a.m. HST (12 p.m. MDT), hosted by the Pouhana O Na Wahine (Pillars of Women) | Register

  • Tuesday, May 4, 2021

    • Webinar—Spotlight Alaska and the Crisis of MMIWG, 11 a.m. AKT (1 p.m. MDT), hosted by the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center | Register

  • Wednesday, May 5, 2021

    • #MMIWGActionNow Twitter Storm, 10–10:30 a.m. MDT

    • #MMIWGActionNow Twitter Chat, 12–1 p.m. MDT | View question script

    • Webinar—Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Day of Action, Uplifting the Voices of MMIW Survivor Families, 1 p.m. MDT, hosted by NIWRC | Register

    • Running for Justice: Remembering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Virtual 5k, 10k & Half Marathon, hosted by Rising Hearts (May 5-9) | Register

• SHARE the MMIWG ‘No More Stolen Sisters’ poster (inserted in this magazine!) and share a photo of yourself wearing red and/ or traditional attire with the poster using #MMIWGTakeAction, #NoMoreStolenSisters and #MMIWG. Download and share the poster: bit.ly/3jEh8cV

• SIGN ON to support the Senate and House resolutions declaring May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls: bit.ly/2N6huNr

Shareable Resources from MMIWG:

• Download the ‘No More Stolen Sisters’ poster and share a photo of yourself wearing red and/or traditional attire with the poster on social media using #MMIWGActionNow, #NoMoreStolenSisters and #MMIWG.

• Explore MMIW Toolkit for Understanding and Responding to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women for Families and Communities.

• Claim free print subscription for NIWRC’s Restoration of Native Sovereignty and Safety for Native Women magazine, courtesy of Urban Indian Health Institute.

• Share StrongHearts Native Helpline (1-844-762-8483) with relatives facing domestic, dating or sexual violence. Online chat is available at strongheartshelpline.org.