#PFII23: Remembering Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women/People #MMIW/P on #ThursdaysInBlack
By Ronald Braman (Eastern Shoshone, Episcopal Diocese of Idaho) and Melissa Chapman Skinner (Standing Rock Nation, Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota)
The following contribution on behalf of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 23rd session (April 15th – 26th, 2024) was submitted to the UNPFII Secretariat in the context of the session “Regional Interactive Dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and Member States – North America”.
Good Morning Relatives, My name is Ron Braman, Eastern Shoshone, I am with the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protesant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
Together with Melissa Chapman Skinner, Standing Rock Nation, and in solidarity with the World Council of Churches’ campaign #ThursdaysInBlack, a campaign bringing to light gender based violence, we bring awareness to the worldwide epidemic our Indigenous women and girls suffer due to violence.
Yesterday, in the Dialogue with African Indigenous voices, we heard this issue addressed, as well, so we know this is an issue affecting many of our peoples.
We are asked in this dialogue what strategic measures can be taken that advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples, but that may be difficult to identify, as we do not have the resources to combat the violence at hand.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing & Murdered Indigenous People webpage:
– More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women, or 84.3% have experienced violence in their lifetime.
– 56.1 percent have experienced sexual violence.
– Overall, more than 1.5 million American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime.
– American Indian and Alaska Native people are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing violence, murder, or going missing and make up a significant portion of the missing and murdered cases.
However, there is room for hope. On my home reservation, and in other parts of Indian Country, grassroots community led activism has educated, organized, and empowered the families of MMIW/P to keep the memory alive of those missing, justice for the murdered, and encourage law enforcement to thoroughly investigate.
Willeena George, Shoshone-Bannock tribal member has undergone extensive training in grassroots activism. Such training included making signs, chanting, use of megaphone, organizing meals & water for activists, as well as keeping attendees safe on route during
demonstrations.
Together with Cynder Metz, mother of missing tribal member Matt Broncho, and Susan Pevo, mother of missing and murdered, Austin Pevo, these women, along with many other community members gather on and off reservation to demonstrate and shout the names of the missing in the streets while carrying large photos of Missing and Murdered people.
Last Friday, we gathered for a cultural night with members of the Youth Caucus. We celebrated our tradition in a cultural exchange night. We ate tribal food of the Shinnecock Nation of NY, sang songs, read poetry, danced, and we remembered a recent Missing Persons case of one of our young, Indigenous persons, Cole Brings Plenty. We remembered him in prayer and offered a moment of silence.
About the authors: Ronald Braman (Eastern Shoshone) is from the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. Melissa Chapman Skinner (Standing Rock Nation) is from the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota.
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