Great Lakes Wire

LANSING, Mich. – On May 5, 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed May 5 as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in Michigan to honor the lives of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native people.

"In Michigan, we will work together to prevent violence in every community,” said Governor Whitmer. “On National Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we recommit ourselves to working closely with Tribal governments and our federal partners to address systemic issues that complicate the investigation and resolution of cases of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native people. We know that American Indian and Alaska Native people experience violence, sexual assault, and abuse at alarmingly high rates, and we must do more to raise awareness and pursue justice. Together, we can keep families safe and protect public safety.” 

 Governor Whitmer released a video following the proclamation.

 To view the full video, click the image above.

 May 5 is recognized as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day to honor those American Indian and Alaska Native people who have lost their lives to violence. This acknowledgment began with tribal advocates and allies who created ceremonies to honor those lost.

 American Indian and Alaska Native people, and more specifically American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have long endured domestic violence, homicide, sexual assault and abuse at disproportionately higher rates than other groups. More than four out of five American Indian and Alaska Native people have suffered some form of violence in their lifetime, including more than half of American Indian and Alaska Native women have who have experienced sexual violence.

 In response to this epidemic of violence, the state of Michigan is committed to working with Tribal governments to identify solutions to address the historic traumas experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and to develop policies and procedures necessary to ensure the allocation of resources to reduce, investigate and bring to resolution all incidents of violence perpetrated against American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and more specifically American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls.

 Last year, Governor Whitmer allocated $500,000 to research Native American children who were forced to attend boarding schools in Michigan in the 19thand 20th centuries. The research will also study the number of Native American children who were abused, died, or went missing at the schools and the long-term impacts on the children and their families. 

 View the full proclamation here.

Original source can be found here