歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� A red handprint painted over an Indigenous woman's mouth represents the silence of the missing and murdered.

Among Native American tradition, the color red transcends the physical world and calls to the ancestors in the spirit world.

The depiction of red dresses is used to call the spirits of missing and murdered women and girls back to their loved ones.

These and countless other acts of symbolism were on display at the ninth annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives event on Friday, which began with a march from the Northwest Indian Community Development Center to Bemidji State University鈥檚 Beaux Arts Ballroom.

The event, which takes place each Valentine鈥檚 Day, also marks Minnesota鈥檚 annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance. Organized by local activism group MMIW 218, this year鈥檚 Bemidji event has been in the works since November with support from BSU鈥檚 Council of Indian Students.

Once the dozens of participating community members settled from their trek, a program filled with drum songs, dancing, speaker presentations and families sharing their stories extended into the afternoon, wrapping up with a shared meal and door prizes. Community organizations were also on hand to share resources and information with those in attendance.

Keynote speaker and MMIW 218 organizer Audrianna Goodwin opened the program by sharing a presentation about the history of violence against Native Americans.

鈥淚n Minnesota, Indigenous women and girls make up 1% of the population,鈥� Goodwin said, 鈥渂ut from 2010 to 2018, 8% of all murdered women and girls in Minnesota were Indigenous, and at least 86% (of Indigenous women) were reporting cases of rape or sexual assault perpetrated by non-Native men.鈥�

She added that Indigenous men also experience violence, though it has been less talked about.

鈥淎t least 27.5% of our men are experiencing some kind of physical or sexual violence throughout their lifetime,鈥� Goodwin continued. 鈥淣ot only is this space about us as women, honoring and uplifting our stories, but it's also about honoring and uplifting our men and encouraging our men to reclaim their rightful roles within our community.鈥�

After noting a lack of law enforcement presence at previous events, Goodwin thanked Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin, Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs and others who were in attendance during the march and following program on Friday.

鈥淲e stopped sending invitations, we stopped asking people to show up for our events,鈥� Goodwin said. 鈥淪o, it is really good to see representation from the Bemidji city police here, as well as the sheriff's office here in this space. We didn't prompt them to come, but they came here today to learn with us and to be with us.鈥�

When family members of those impacted by the loss of a missing or murdered loved one were given the chance to speak, these sentiments were echoed by several.

鈥淚'd like to thank everyone first for being here and the police for being here as well,鈥� said Theresa Jourdain, mother of Jeremy Jourdain who went missing in October 2016 at the age of 17. 鈥淚t's about time. It's about time to find Jeremy.鈥�

Jourdain expressed gratitude for an effort by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and partner GSTV to publish Jeremy鈥檚 missing poster at 1,900 gas station TVs throughout the Midwest this March, but also remarked that such an effort should never need to be implemented.

鈥淲e shouldn't have to do this, it makes me mad,鈥� Jourdain said. 鈥淏ut I sure am glad that on Valentine's Day, we are doing this with love and peace. I'm glad that we still are doing our best to make progress.鈥�

The families of Brandi Lynn Shank (Strong), and also gave testimonials of their loved ones in an effort to spread awareness of the repercussions that violence against Indigenous has not only on the victims themselves but also on those left behind.

The testimonials concluded with an emotional update from members of missing Bemidji teen Nevaeh Kingbird, who went missing in October 2021. While no new leads have been discovered in recent months, the family will be hosting another search as soon as the snow melts this spring.

鈥淲e're still grieving; we're going to continue to grieve until we find answers,鈥� said Valahlena Steeprock, a family member of Kingbird and MMIW 218 organizer. 鈥淣evaeh is such a good auntie, a good sister, a good cousin, a good friend. I鈥檓 going to keep fighting for her.鈥�

While many local efforts are underway to help find the missing and justice for the murdered, the families continue to advocate for legislative changes that can help provide more assistance or, better yet, prevent these cases from happening at all.

Steeprock is one of many attempting to spark change within the Minnesota Legislature. She shared how she will in hopes of implementing new policies that improve the search process for missing Indigenous people and additional funding.

鈥淲e experienced having low resources when Nevaeh first went missing, we struggled. We had to do our own fundraisers; we still do our own fundraisers to get money for Nevaeh and Jeremy,鈥� Steeprock said. 鈥淭hat's one of the main things that I'm trying to push on the floor to the Senate.鈥�

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Native Americans accounted for 4.24% of all reported homicide victims or non-negligent manslaughters in Minnesota in 2024, despite representing only 1.4% of the state's population.

Last year, 716 Indigenous persons went missing in Minnesota and 57% of those missing are women, according to the BCA.

鈥淭he history of colonization and systemic racism have increased the prevalence and impact of poverty, unsheltered homelessness, housing instability, intarceration and violent relationships for Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people, creating patterns of abuse that increase the risk factors for missing and murdered people overall,鈥� a proclamation issued by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Feb.14 said.

鈥淢innesota is committed to spreading awareness of our Indigenous relatives who have gone missing or who have been murdered, tortured, raped, trafficked and assaulted.鈥�

Minnesota was the first state to implement an and did so in 2021. This office collaborates with the state鈥檚 11 tribal nations, state agencies, community organizations, advocates and law enforcement to prevent and end the targeting of Indigenous people.

鈥淭his day serves to raise continued awareness and encourages all people in Minnesota to support Indigenous communities to stop this epidemic and heal together as we create a collective, saler future,鈥� Walz said in his proclamation.

In 2024, the provided services and resources for 28 families with missing or murdered Indigenous relatives. Staff also conducted referrals or consults on 10 additional cases. In four instances, cases were closed when the victim was found safe or was located, according to the BCA.

The public can support raising awareness around the MMIR epidemic by purchasing Minnesota鈥檚 MMIR license plate. In addition to the attention these draw, they also support the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Account that will consider rewards for tips that lead to a resolution of MMIR cases.

鈥淎lthough we're gathering here for a sad thing, there's still a lot of hope for our communities, for our people, and everyone that came here today is testament to that,鈥� Goodwin said in closing. 鈥淲e are a community and we are stronger together.鈥�