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MMIW Event by BC Students




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MARTIN – Last week on May 5th, many events occurred across the nation in recognition of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous people.

Every year since 2017, this day is recognized to bring awareness to the thousands of Indigenous people who have gone missing, some murdered and some never found.

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Awareness Day, 2022 for May 5th.

“My administration understands that Native people, particularly survivors of violence, know best what their communities need to feel safe. That is why we must work hand in hand with Tribal partners through each phase of the justice system to create solutions that are victim-centered, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate,” stated Biden in his proclamation.

May 5th is birthday of Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne, went missing in 2013 and after a frantic search by her family, she was found murdered and sexually assaulted. Her death brought Montana enacted the 2018 Hanna’s Act which the Montana Department of Justice were authorized to assist local enforcement in missing person’s cases.

Congress also enacted May 5th as a national day of awareness, memorializing Hannah and thousands of others who have went missing, murdered or never found.

Events that were held were from walks, gatherings, say her name events, candle light vigils, speeches, media doing stories of MMIW and many other events across the nation.

Students at Bennett County High School participated in the national day of awareness last week by setting up booths in high school and middle school. They gave out brochures and materials on issue of violence against Native women, awareness on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and information for community awareness.

Carleen Simpson, school social worker, assisted high school students by providing a table in her office where students came and painted a red hand on their face. The red hand represents the silence and lack of awareness to victimized Indigenous women. It is mostly painted over the mouth.

Students Jaclyn Dubray, Angela Clifford and Marella Bull Bear organized the booths and pouring of red sand into the cracks of the sidewalk outside of the school. The Red Sand project is an awareness action that uses sidewalk interventions against vulnerabilities that women face when they become trafficking and exploitation. Justin White Plume song a Lakota song in honor of the women who have gone missing. Their booth listed names of women who have gone missing or murdered from the area.

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