Understanding the Crisis
TIMELINE
1600's
(Pocahontas) Her primary name at birth was Amonute, and her secondary name was Matoaka, meaning “flower between two streams.” The heartbreaking life of Pocahontas was one of tragedy and violence - the story of a young girl who was brutally raped, kidnapped, and allegedly murdered by those who were meant to keep her safe.
1992
The first documented case related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) that gained significant attention was the Women’s Memorial March held on February 14, 1992, in Downtown Eastside, Vancouver. This area was notable for having numerous missing or murdered Indigenous women. The march was organized in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman.
2016
Highest numbered cases, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in the United States. However, the federal missing person database, known as NamUs, only logged 116 cases. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for greater attention and action to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW).
2021
The FBI’s National Crime Information Center reported 5,203 missing Indigenous girls and women in 2021 — disappearing at a rate equal to more than two and a half times their estimated share of the U.S. population. Indigenous women are also two times more likely to be victims of rape compared to white women.
2024
Named most import issue following land and water rights. First Nations Development Institute’s (FNDI) National Survey of Native Americans reported that 37 percent of respondents say that “The high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW)” is the most salient issue.
The Crisis in Oklahoma
Did You Know?
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Most Tribes in Oklahoma do not have an emergency plan for gender based violence
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Even though many Native communities have created wonderful organizations to try and help, most do not have 501c3 status
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Most of the organizations also lack proper training
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In the aftermath of tragedy those grieving experience higher rates of suicide, illicit drug use, and alcohol abuse
The issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People is a crisis across the United States and Canada, with impacts felt far and wide in our Native communities.
Within Oklahoma, our state ranks among the top 10 states for missing Native individuals, with both Oklahoma City (187) and Tulsa (161) featuring prominently among the top 10 cities in the US for such cases.
It’s also worth noting that Dallas, with 307 cases reported, lies just an hour away from our location, and we extend our assistance to these cases when needed, recognizing the interconnectedness of these communities and the urgency of addressing this pressing issue.
Remember these are only the cases reported. Many cases go unreported and even more are affected by Racial misclassification. This is where the individuals race or ethnicity is coded incorrectly as white. This generally favors the larger race, so while Natives are often misclassified as white, the reverse classification is very rare.
Because of these issues it is extremely hard to truly understand the crisis and receive accurate reporting unless you are grass roots in your communities.