Jan 18, 2018 - For Immediate Release: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Washington March
For Immediate Release: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Washington March – January 20th 2018
Seattle, WA – On January 20th, 2018 Indigenous Women will be leading the Seattle’s Women’s march and highlighting the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
From the committee: “We would like to respectfully invite all families of M.M.I.W. victims to attend. We seek to bring awareness to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and colonial gender based violence in the United States and Canada.”
What: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Washington March
When: January 20th 2018 9 AM
Where: Cal Anderson Park 1635 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Contact: Roxanne White nimiipuuroxy206@gmail.com
Key Details: The march starts at Cal Anderson Park & ends at The Seattle Center.
Indigenous people will meet at 9:00 AM at Cal Anderson Park, by the stage. We are aware that the march doesn’t start until 11:30 AM, but we want to have adequate time to honor the M.M.I.W. families that have confirmed attendance.
9:00 AM Opening Prayers—Blake Shelafoe & Cecile Ann Hansen~a descendant within the family of Chief Si ‘ahl («Chief Seattle») — has served as the elected chair of Duwamish people since 1975.
Opening Song—Melinda James (Quileute, Skokomish, Muckleshoot)
Speaker – Deborah Parker (Tulalip/Yaqui)
Honoring the Families of our M.M.I.W.—Jacqueline Salyers family, Renee Davis family, Jessica Santos family, Ashley Loring family, Giovanna Colfax Tyler Makah family, Leona LeClair Kinsey family & Misty Upham family.
Bring banners, signs, posters, drums, rattles, songs & prayers.
We will line up immediately after the ceremony on East Pine Street, then proceed down 4th Avenue toward Westlake, ending at Seattle Center and meeting at the John T. Williams Totem Pole
Please bring folding chairs for elders if you can.
If there are any additional MMIW families that are attending or would like to attend that we have not confirmed or listed please contact jeri@Innovationshtc.org
Organizers statements
“As an Indigenous woman & Grandmother I have survived much trauma. I have often prayed and asked creator how and why did I survive and so many of my sister’s did not. My path has taken me on many front-lines of grassroots movements to use my voice for Justice. It has been a honor & humbling experience to assist on coordinating & organizing the Indigenous led portion of this Seattle Women’s March 2018. Our only purpose is to honor the M.I.W.W. families & bring awareness to the world of this Epidemic in Our Nations across Turtle Island, Canada & North America. I believe in my spirit that I have been called speak out & stand for all those that don’t have a voice.” ~Roxanne White (Yakama)
Roxanne White
“Historically from the first point of contact Indigenous people have been exploited, kidnapped, sold, raped and trafficked. Our communities are fractored from this historical trauma. Bring MMIW to the National spotlight will help spread awareness and bring these grave injustices into the light. We are resilient people and we are not invisible! We have to link arms together and be a part of the solution to protect our people and bringing our sisters home!” Jeri Moomaw
Jeri Moomaw
“Awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women is the people’s movement, based on grief and unjust work by authorities. We are taking our voice back. When a sister can’t, I will. When I can’t, a sister will. This isn’t just my voice, this is the voice of all Indigenous Women. When there is a need within the people, we step up and speak up. We must take any platform we can to bring awareness, we are not just statistics. Women are healers, life giving sacred beings; the violence against us must stop.” ~Ixtli White Hawk
Ixtli White Hawk
“Our Indigenous Women are spiritual beings. We have a close connection to the universe and all living beings. We are a door to the Spiritual realm. We are closely connected to the water and our Mother-earth. We are the original stewards and caretakers of this land. We teach our Children to carry on these traditions. Therefore, I think our women and children are being targeted by our government and Corporate entities. Our Indigenous Women are the most oppressed amongst all the Nations. Statistics show it; Indigenous Women have ten times the National average for sexual and domestic assault. Homicide is the 5th leading cause of death amongst Native American Women. 70% of these cases go un-prosecuted. The authorities; the police, children protective services, and the federal government don’t want to properly investigate our cases. Our cases go un-investigated, placed on the back burner, or go mislabeled. Our children continue to be taken from us and placed outside of our families. Some of the children become lost and unattached from their People. They conform to this colonial society, or they self-destruct; including, selling themselves in these man camps to survive, or committing suicide. There is a close connection to our Indigenous People and what the Corporations are doing to our environment. If our People lose our connection to the universe and our Mother-earth, we will all perish. We need to address our Indigenous People’s issues and help them heal. Our Indigenous People need to be the first thought, and not the last. When we help the most oppressed, our Indigenous Women heal, our whole Nation will heal, our Mother-earth will heal. When Our Indigenous Women Rise, we all Rise! Come help us uplift Our Indigenous Women and Children.” ~Earth Feather Sovereign (Colville)
Earth Feather Sovereign
Participants:
Native community and everyone joining MMIWW at the march:
We ask everyone come in a good prayerful way, sharing space in leading the march.
Organizations, groups, tribes and individuals: bring banners, flags, posters, etc.
The color of MMIW awareness is red, we encourage people wear red and/or traditional clothing; bring drums and rattles too!
We will have bandannas and patches with the MMIWW logo.
Meeting place is Cal Park, official meeting time is 10am. However, we will be there as of 9am to help get people situated.
We will be having traditional prayers and smudging.
MMIW Families:
Please contact us, we want to honor you and make sure all proper arrangements are made.
Canoe Families, Dance Families/Groups, Tribes, Community Groups, Organizations:
If you are planning on joining us in the march, please let us know. We are putting together a list to acknowledge you, and how you would like to be addressed. A number of patches/bandannas will also be secured for you.
Donations:
Snacks, fruit and drinks (for day of the march)
Safety pins (for patches, bandannas)
Monetary donations are also welcome, as we are currently working with a non-existent budget.
Monetary donations can be sent through Paypal address jeriv559@gmail.com
Volunteers:
We are in need of Indigenous security volunteers. There will training prior to the march, as well as in conjunction w/ the Women’s March security.
We are in need of volunteers, in preparation and day of the march.
Please contact Roxanne White for assignments/projects.
If you have any questions nimiipuuroxy206@gmail.com
For more information check the event page here
We would like to thank our volunteers, photographers, security & partners
Special thanks to Louie Gong of Eighth Generation, InnovationsHTC, Mother Nation, Matt Remle LRI, 350 Seattle & MMIWUSA,
We look forward to having you join us to show support on this important issue and to honor the M.M.I.W. families