OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – The College of the Muscogee Nation hosted a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women event on May 12, which was canceled due to inclement weather previously. The event began with CMN President Monte Randall signing a proclamation recognizing MMIW day, May 5. Then, speakers from the MMIW Indian Capital Chapter and MCN Family Violence & Prevention Program spoke on the issues and their personal experiences with domestic violence. The event wrapped up with an honor walk. Those who attended the event wore red in honor of Native American women who had been murdered or gone missing.
The MMIW Awareness Event was carefully planned to make sure it respectfully honored murdered and missing Native women and adequately provided a platform to bring awareness of the issue to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Although the event was focused on MMIW, awareness of all missing Indigenous People was discussed as well.
Native Americans and Alaskan Indians are two and a half times more likely to experience violent crimes. According to Dr. Randall, they are two times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes than any other group in the United States.
Event Planners like Criminal Justice Instructor Cheryl Najera understand the severity of the issue. Awareness events are crucial for disseminating information, equipping others with resources, and coming together to protect victims.
MMIW advocates like Rochelle Redbone Arevalo have dedicated their life’s work to bringing justice to women who have gone missing or have experienced domestic violence.
Arevalo is a member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. She comes from a line of women who serve and protect fellow Native Women.
Arevalo connected to the MMIW Movement through her mother, Charrisse Redbone, one of the original founders. Since 2014, the Movement has grown to start aboard and open up nine chapters across the state. Arevalo was nominated to Chairperson in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since her appointment, she has expanded MMIW’s services and events that spread awareness.
When it finally became safer to host events in May 2021, Arevalo and her team immediately began hosting events in Native communities.”I’ve hit the ground running, and I haven’t stopped,” Arevalo said.
To start a movement, there must be community engagement. “It’s the trust of others that we have to gain first and especially the family members,” Arevalo said. The MMIW not only spreads awareness, they build a network that works with families to help them find missing loved ones.
“If not, it’s us, then who is going to do it for them? Other than that they are not going to get any type of movement or justice.” Arevalo said.
“Their voices and their names will never be heard, and these families will still continue to want an answer to what happened to their loved one.”
“Their voices and their names will never be heard, and these families will still continue to want an answer to what happened to their loved one.”
The MMIW’s events include fundraisers, peaceful protests, walks, self-care education, self-defense education, and prayer circles. Their presence can also be seen at powwows. The MMIW were seen peacefully protesting outside the State Capitol for International Women’s Day in March.
Violence against Native Women has been described as an epidemic. The statistics are staggering. Four out of five Indigenous women experience violence, and more than half of Indigenous women experience sexual violence. Most Native American women will not see their abusers brought to justice, according to the Indian Law Resource Center.
The main disparity among domestic violence numbers on reservations is limited resources, complex jurisdiction, poor record-keeping, and under-reporting of crimes. MCN is looking to change that.
Thanks to organizers like Najera and Arevalo, the Awareness Event is just the beginning of MCN’s partnership with MMIW. MMIW is looking to expand its services to MCN and Okmulgee moving forward.
To learn more about the MMIW Indian Capital Chapter services and events, visit their public Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210712052855378/.
To view Mvskoke Media coverage on missing Indigenous People, visit: https://www.mvskokemedia.com/?s=Missing+Indigenous+People.
