May 5th, a National Day of Awareness for our Missing, and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement. The May 5th resolution was championed by a mother, grieving the loss of her beloved daughter Hanna Harris. Hanna Harris’s senseless and brutal murder brought together nearly 200 tribal nations, national and state organizations, community members, and grassroots organizers to say enough is enough.

May 5th was officially designated as a day of awareness in honor of Hanna’s birthday in April of 2017. Hanna Harris was only 21 years old; she was a beloved member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. Hanna Harris never came home, instead that July night, she was raped, she was then beaten to death, and her body was carelessly discarded, her pants still down her bra still pushed up. It was the summer of 2013, Hanna left her family with so many questions, Hanna left behind a 10-month-old son and her loving mother, Malinda Harris.

It’s not just Hanna’s memory, sadly, her story is one of many. On the same day in April that May 5th was designated as a Day of Awareness for MMIW/G a Crow tribal member, Roylynn Rides Horse was brutally beaten, set on fire, and left to die in a field. Roylynn had survived the beating and burns covering most of her body, Roylynn walked three miles from where she was left before passing out. She was found and sent to a trauma center, but two months later she succumbed to her injuries. So much senseless violence, so much heartbreaking loss.

This is not new to our communities. Since the first European stepped foot on our lands, violence against the Native people has not only been allowed, but also celebrated. They cut out our uteruses and used them as coin pouches. Our scalps were sold alongside beaver hides and bearskins. I remember in the late 1990’s during the Makah whale hunt seeing bumper stickers in Seattle that read “Kill a Makah, Save a Whale.” This behavior is commonplace and acceptable allowing for violence against Native American Men and Women. Millions of indigenous men and women have been murdered, because violence against us has been encouraged since the first colonizer set foot on our lands.

This quote from the 9/25/1863 Winona Daily Republican paper speaks volumes of the hate and violence directed at the indigenous of these lands. “The State reward for dead Indians has been increased to $200 dollars for every red-skin sent to purgatory. This sum is more than the dead bodies of all the Indians east of the Red River are worth.” This sums up the attitude the colonizers were born from, and it continues in laws that make it impossible to hold abusers accountable on tribal lands for the violence they commit against Native people. Today’s law enforcement lives as a continuation of those abuses.

So many stories…

John T. Williams, murdered in cold blood just walking down the street carving a piece of wood. The officer told him to stop, John did. The cop told him to turn around then shot him four times in the back. This officer shot before John T. Williams could even turn around or comply with his demands.

Another indigenous mother of three who was murdered by law enforcement Renee Davis was murdered by Sheriff Deputies sent to do a welfare check. Renee was 5 months pregnant and sad when two deputies forced entrance into her home forcing open her bedroom door and shooting Renee multiple times in front of her young children. This happened in less than one minute from their entrance into Renee’s home.

Rosenda Strong, went missing from the Legends Casino in 2018. Almost 300 days after she went missing, Rosenda’s body was found at a dump site stuffed inside a freezer. The FBI has Rosenda now, her family is still waiting to bring her home. Her family members are still waiting for the justice Rosenda deserves.

Rae Rose (far right) with Roxanne White at May 5th MMIW awareness event in Tulalip. Photo by Tulalip News

May 5th, 2021, my family goes to stand with the Tulalip tribe in honor of our missing, our murdered, our survivors, and the families struggling in the aftermath. The first thing I noticed were the red dresses blowing in the breeze. Red dresses our missing may never wear again. The red dress we wish they would come home to wear or a gift. They hang in trees, from signs, each one a symbol of the person we wish would come home once again.

At the gathering signs are everywhere as Tulalip is searching for another missing tribal member. Mary E. Johnson who was last seen on 12/01/2020. No one has seen or heard from Mary since that day. Every person there carried a prayer for Mary’s return home that day.

The details change, the names change, even the tribal nations change, but the violence against America’s indigenous people continue. The constant is the almost complacent acceptance of violence against indigenous people. The added insult is the blatant disregard and ignorance of this issue. Even if this is being brought to the forefront, even if America is acknowledging the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, it is not enough.

May 15th, 2021, a March in Seattle’s Rainier valley brought together large crowds to carry forward families, to keep alive memories, to demand justice, to bring awareness. People began to arrive long before the tables or PA were set up.

Photos from May 15th MMIP gathering in Seattle. All photos by Alex Garland

Seeing this the singers who had brought their drums began to sing. The steady rhythm of the drum and their strong voices brought the people there together. Medicine was brought and passed around by a young man to give strength, for the loved ones, prayers for those lost, for those searching, and for those grieving. A young woman carried paint to help heal, to provide care, to help hold the families, the survivors, and the memory of those taken to soon up. It began with love, it began with people uniting, our communities, and our allies coming together with one voice to demand answers, to demand justice.

There are those who watch us march, who watch us gather, I always wonder what they see. There are so many missing and murdered indigenous people. So many daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers who will never come home. Do those watching understand that loss, can they understand that pain. The stories I shared are just a few of too many stories to count, of too many losses we have suffered.

At both events people came out to march, they came out to see, I hope they came to listen, to lend a hand, and to learn too. When I see curious people during MMIP events I wonder what they know as they snap our pictures and record our songs? Do they know Washington state has the highest numbers of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People in this country? Do they know the history or the contributing factors that contribute to the continued violence and abuses against indigenous people? Or do they just come out to see the Indians? Do they care about the lives we are fighting for?

It has only been recently that laws are being called into question, laws that allow for the assault of Native people on their lands with no legal recourse, no way to prosecute our abusers. This insult, this injustice is a continuation of the violence and genocide brought to these lands by outsiders who did not see or value the original people. The violence perpetrated against America’s first people is an over 500-year epidemic.

I am grateful many of the descendants of colonizers are rethinking their ways. I see more of them looking for their connection and stepping forward as allies to the indigenous people still here. I hope they will continue to step forward acknowledging the abuses we suffered at their forefathers (and mothers) hands. It is my sincere hope that they learn to call out the abuses that continue. That more of these descendants of colonizers will hold their peers and family accountable and put a stop to the toxic mind sets of superiority, and oppression. I hope they will try to see us, to hear our words, and stand with us as allies.

Hanna’s mother Malinda Harris, fought to be heard, she fought not just for her daughter, but for all of our indigenous children, she fought so we never forget her daughter, Hanna. It is because of Malinda Harris’s strength, her perseverance, and her love for her daughter that Hanna’s birthday, May 5th, is now a day to recognize the Missing, and Murdered Indigenous People movement, a day to uphold our families, and to comfort our survivors. It is a day to remember all our missing and murdered indigenous people. Thank you, Malinda, for pushing through the nightmare, for demanding justice, for standing with us in spite of the immense heartbreak.

Every voice is important, every action necessary, and every gathering/march is a step forward. Please continue to fight to end the violence against Indigenous people. To everyone who is carrying this forward to put an end to the violence, thank you for showing up, thank you for standing up, thank you for supporting the movement.

By Rae Rose

Rae Rose is a Pacific Northwest author of Paiute, Mayan, and Japanese heritage. She writes historical fiction, poetry, picture books. “Stories are very important to me, I hope you enjoy these stories I share with you.” You can follow her @Rae_Rose7

*Cover photo of Rae Rose at Tulalip MMIW gathering. Photo credit Tulalip News

National Awareness for MMIW: Putting an End to the Violence by Rae Rose