May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness Month.
The National Partners Work Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the MMIW Family Advisors are organizing a national week of action May 1-7 to call the nation and the world to action in the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
To register for the week’s activities and raise awareness of it with our social media tool kit, visit the events webpage.
On May 5 we encouraged you to join Native people across the United States in wearing red to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Post a selfie or group picture on your social media channels, using the hashtags #MMIW and #ELCA.
To learn more about the National Day of Awareness and more ways to get involved, read this article from We R Native.
All congregations are encouraged to choose any Sunday in May to share the truths about the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women using the resources provided below. In addition, worship resources will be available for use in services on each congregation’s #MMIW Sunday. We know it will be the first time many congregation members have heard about this crisis, and we hope these resources continue to inspire conversation and learning in ministries and communities across our church.
ELCA #MMIW Sunday is also a day to encourage members and guests of your congregation to wear red to bring greater awareness to MMIW. Remember to post a photo on your post social media channels using the hashtag!
In November 2022, hundreds gathered virtually and in-person for the annual Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium, hosted by the Pete & Cheryl Pero Center Intersectional Studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Participants learned more about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. View the presentations here. Watch Deacon Colleen Bernu’s sermon from the Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium.
Watch VideoOn some reservations, Indian women are murdered at more than 10 times the national average.
Read MoreStatement of Charles Addington, Deputy Bureau Director – Office Of Justice Services, Bureau Of Indian Affairs, United States Department Of The Interior – Before The House Committee On Natural Resources Subcommittee For Indigenous Peoples Of The United States Oversight Hearing “Reviewing The Trump Administration’s Approach To The MMIW Crisis” September 11, 2019
Read MoreMissing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIWGR) -- a one-page introduction to the crisis and movement.
DownloadA guide for a candlelight prayer vigil to remember and honor the Indigenous women who have gone missing, been murdered or suffered from violence.
DownloadThis design represents the red dress symbol of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Movement and the phrase "No More Stolen Sisters."
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