MMIW+ Resources
MMIW+
Warning: The content below can be triggering.
A note from Leah: A lot of time, people ask about resources and ways to learn, so I’ve put together a list here as a first step for people to learn about MMIW+, which stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Sometimes you’ll see it as #MMIWG2S, #MMIWG, #MMIR, or even #MMIP to expand it to girls, relatives, people, and Two-Spirit individuals. That’s to mark the inclusion of those not adhering to the (colonial, patriarchal, Western) construct of male and female. Traditionally Indigenous cultures have often held space for those Western individuals would consider “nonbinary” or “genderqueer.” In Diné culture, we have Two-Spirit people. Other cultures will have other ways to describe and identify. I stand with them, their bodies, their identities, and welcome them under the umbrella of MMIW+. Please take care of yourselves, all. Ahéhee’.
Helplines
StrongHearts Native Helpline
1-844-7NATIVE
https://strongheartshelpline.org/
Website has emergency ‘exit’ button
The National Sexual Assault Helpline
1-800-656-4673
https://www.rainn.org/
Tiplines
& action plans for communities
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA
Facebook page posting information about those missing
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: An Action Plan for Alaska Native Communities
Step-by-step action plan from the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center that focuses on awareness, prevention, and intervention strategies that can be used if a loved one goes missing or dies under suspicious circumstances
Missing and Murdered Unit at the Bureau of Indian Affairs Justice Services
Submit a tip or report information, view information about cases, and learn about the crisis
Resources to learn
Press & media to read
BuzzFeed, 29 March 2023
To Call Attention To The Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women Epidemic, Auli'i Cravalho Wore A Red Handprint On Her Mouth To A TV Show PremiereThe Guardian, 3 February 2023
“‘The families deserve answers’: inside the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women”Rolling Stone, 3 February 2023
“Native American Women Keep Turning Up Dead. Why Is Nothing Being Done?”Variety, 2 February 2023
“Showtime Docuseries ‘Murder in Big Horn’ Amplifies Terrifying Stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: TV Review”The Independent, 12 January 2023
“‘Her case haunts me’: These horrific murders show North America is not doing enough to help Indigenous women”Indian Country Today, 5 January 2021
Athletes lend a hand(print) to MMIWThe Guardian, 2 May 2019
“Women are disappearing and dying in Indian country. We must act” by now Secretary of the Interior Deb HaalandNew York Times, 12 April 2019
“Native American Women Are Facing a Crisis”Los Angeles Times, 17 November 2018
“The horrific death of a Native American woman spurs action in Congress”
The story of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind’s death and Savanna’s Act named for herNPR, 15 November 2018
“Police In Many U.S. Cities Fail To Track Murdered, Missing Indigenous Women”
About how police departments fail to identify or report casesCBC News, last updated 26 September 2018
“Unresolved: Case closed or murder?: These are the case authorities say do not involve foul play”
Profiles of 300+ women and girls and the circumstances surrounding their caseTeen Vogue, 11 September 2018
“When the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis Hits Home”Seattle Times, 23 August 2018
“Nearly every Native American woman in Seattle survey said she was raped or coerced into sex”
Donate
These are both organizations that are doing good work and bringing attention to MMIW+.
NIRWC
Providing national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women by lifting up the collective voices of grassroots advocates and offering culturally grounded resources, technical assistance and training, and policy development to strengthen tribal sovereignty.
UIHI
Decolonizing data, for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people: Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) is leading the way in research and data for urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities. As a Public Health Authority and one of 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers in the country—and the only one that serves Urban Indian Organizations nationwide—UIHI conducts research and evaluation, collects and analyzes data, and provides disease surveillance to strengthen the health of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.