Raising Our Voices
In support of Missing
and Murdered Indigenous Women and their Families
Violence and abuse affect women in every country and every
walk of life. We are assaulted daily by social and news media accounts of the
latest atrocities. Social scientists note that sexual discrimination, physical
abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual assault, rape, detention,
isolation, control of money, shelter, time, food, etc., financial exploitation,
trafficking, and other forms of abuse and violence against women respects
neither race, ethnicity, culture, wealth, position, religious belief or age.
Violence against women is rampant and is egregious. It is of particular concern
with regard to Indigenous women. As a people of faith, we are called and
required to raise our voices in opposition to these crimes and in support of
the victims and their families.
In 2016, when First Nation peoples of Canada began calling
attention to this plight there were over 5000. Since that time the Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women movement has spread across North America. Federal
governments in both Canada and the United States have passed legislation
addressing the issues.
Canada is engaging with Indigenous organizations through
It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence
(GBV), to put forward actions to help address violence against Indigenous women
and girls and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit People. The Government of Canada continues
to invest in housing, education, and the transformative reform of child and
family services with a focus on prevention, ensuring children are connected to
their language and culture, and keeping families together. The inquiry's
interim report recognized strong links between the child welfare system and
violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada and identified a need for
responsive, accountable, and culturally appropriate child and family services.
In the United States, the Department of Justice is committed
to fully implementing Public Law No. 116-165, Savanna’s Act. Signed into law in October 2020, Savanna’s
Act was a bipartisan effort to improve the federal response to missing or
murdered indigenous persons (MMIP), including by increasing coordination among
Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies. The DOJ is focusing
on five main areas: Consultations and Listening Sessions, Outreach and
Training, Federal Law Enforcement Guidelines, State, Local, and Tribal Law
Enforcement Guidelines, and
Data collection, access, and reporting.
Yet the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women
continues to be an issue with the number of women and girls at over 4000.
Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk (1863-1950) said, “It is
not enough to have a vision. In order to have its power, you must enact your
vision on earth for all to see. Only then do you have the power.”
We call upon all members of the Reformed Catholic Church and
all people of goodwill who share our vision of a more just and equitable
society to raise their voices in support of indigenous women. If you see
something, say something. If you are speaking with your local representatives
at the local, state, or federal levels, inquire for an update on what the
government is doing to solve these cases.
In addition, we invite you to join us in this prayer for all
those who are missing or have been murdered, especially on February 14 and May 5
of each year.
Prayer
O God, the Great Spirit, who gives light and life to all
creation, we place before you the plight of the Indigenous Women and Girls who
are missing, trafficked, or murdered. We ask You to stir the hearts of all
humanity to raise their voices in support of efforts to solve these cases. Be
with the family members of those whose fate is unknown. Bring all your people
together into one family forever. Amen.
