missing and murdered indigenous people month: an ongoing crisis.

May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Month (MMIP Month). While I was somewhat familiar with the crisis of violence against Indigenous people, it wasn’t something I’d seen discussed much, even here in Arizona, where many of their communities have existed on reservations for decades. It’s not that I wanted to ignore it; I just hadn’t heard anyone near me talking about it, whether in my personal life or the corners of the internet I visit. But around a week ago (already past May 5th, considered MMIP Day), I passed a billboard near Scottsdale, and it made me realize how much more attention this issue needs. It’s not just something to focus on in May; it’s an ongoing crisis.

According to the National Institute of Justice, more than 84 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. Over half have faced sexual violence, physical abuse by an intimate partner, or stalking. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Indigenous women and girls, with rates ten times higher than the national average. Two-thirds of sexual assaults against Indigenous women are committed by white or other non-Native perpetrators. Yet U.S. attorneys declined to prosecute 67 percent of sexual violence cases on tribal lands.

understanding the violence against women act (vawa).

These limitations are significant because they leave many cases of violence against Indigenous women unprosecuted, contributing to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was first passed in 1994 to provide resources and legal protections against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It’s been reauthorized several times, but there are still major gaps.

Before the 2013 update, the Supreme Court’s Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe (1978) decision meant tribal courts couldn’t prosecute non-Native offenders, even for crimes that happened on tribal lands. The 2013 version gave tribes limited authority to handle certain crimes like dating violence and violations of protective orders, but sexual assault and related crimes still aren’t covered.

the media’s role in representing indigenous voices.

Mainstream media often falls back on stereotypes when covering Indigenous communities. As a reference, Gabrielle Petito was a traveling vlogger killed by her fiancé Brian Laundrie in August of 2021. It’s understandable that the amount of media coverage this case gained was due to the couple’s documentation of traveling through social media, leaked body cam footage, recordings, and more. As horrific as this incident was, it occurred around four years ago from today (May 2025). So many missing Indigenous cases have not gotten close to the same level of attention as cases like Petito’s, which says a lot about how the media prioritizes these issues. The focus is often on victimization rather than the whole story and the strength of these communities.

The way stories are told needs to change. While platforms like social media and independent outlets are becoming important spaces where Indigenous voices can finally be heard, much work has yet to be done. Reporting needs to focus on keeping survivors safe while respecting their dignity and recognizing the history and legal issues tied to these cases.

take action: support indigenous-led organizations.

Below is a list of impactful organizations that have contributed to essential work supporting Indigenous communities, providing resources for survivors, and advocating for legal reforms.

• National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) – niwrc.org

• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA (MMIW USA) – mmiwusa.org

• Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) – csvanw.org

• Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI) – sovereign-bodies.org

• Indigenous Women Rising (IWR) – iwrising.org

• StrongHearts Native Helpline – strongheartshelpline.org

Raising awareness isn’t just something to focus on for one month. These injustices happen all year, so we need to keep acknowledging rather than disregarding them after a short period. By supporting these organizations, whether it’s proactively learning more or simply sharing accurate information, we can all help move things in the right direction.

Further Resources:

MENA Report (2019). United States: Governor Ducey Signs Bill Taking Action For Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Read the report.

Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW). Ten Vital Services, New Mexico. Learn more.

Montana Public Radio (2021). Vigils, Panel Discussion, Call Attention To Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Read the article.

Missoula Current. Murdered and Missing Native American Women Challenge Police and Courts. Read the article.

Harris, A. (2020). Homescapes: Indigenous Land Art and Public Memory. Read the paper.