Every year on May 5, people across the country recognize the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIW).
This day exists for a reason.
Because without a dedicated moment, many of these stories would remain unseen, unheard, and unspoken.
But a single day cannot carry the weight of an ongoing crisis.
And that is where responsibility begins.
Why This Awareness Exists
Awareness is not created randomly. It is created when something has been overlooked for too long.
The crisis of MMIW did not begin in recent years. It has been present for generations, shaped by systemic gaps that continue to affect Indigenous communities today.
Many of the statistics we see shared publicly only capture a fraction of reality.
Some cases were never recorded.
Some were misclassified.
Some were never fully investigated.
This is not only a failure of data.
It is a failure of recognition.
And when something is not recognized, it becomes easier to ignore.
That is why awareness matters.
Because recognition is the first step toward accountability.
Why Awareness Alone Is Not Enough
Awareness, by itself, does not create change.
It creates visibility. But visibility must lead to action, or it fades.
A moment of attention without follow-through becomes a pause, not progress.
That is why May 5 should not be treated as a symbolic gesture alone.
It should be understood as a starting point.
Because change happens when awareness continues beyond the moment it was first acknowledged.
What You Can Do And Why It Matters
You do not need to do everything. But each action has meaning when it is done with intention.
1. Wear Red - Because Visibility Carries Meaning
Red has become a symbol of MMIW awareness.
It is used because it is seen. And being seen matters in a crisis where so many have been overlooked.
When you wear red, you are not solving the problem.
But you are helping ensure it is not ignored.
And that is where change begins.
2. Learn and Share - Because Awareness Grows Through Understanding
Information creates understanding. Understanding creates empathy. And empathy leads to action.
Without knowledge, awareness becomes shallow.
Taking the time to learn about the crisis and sharing that knowledge allows the issue to reach beyond one circle, one community, one moment.
Stories that are told have a chance to be remembered.
Stories that are remembered have a chance to create change.
What to do:
- Share a post about MMIW
- Use respectful language
- Include accurate information if possible
You can include:
- The meaning of May 5
- A short message of remembrance
- Hashtags like: #MMIW #NoMoreStolenSisters
3. Show Up - Because Presence Builds Community
Support does not always need to be loud.
Attending a vigil, joining a gathering, or even taking a moment of reflection creates connection.
And connection matters.
Because this is not an individual issue. It is a community reality.
When people show up, they acknowledge that reality together.
4. Continue - Because One Day Is Not Enough
A single day can raise awareness. But it cannot resolve a crisis.
What matters is what happens after.
Continuing to follow Indigenous voices, support organizations, and speak about the issue ensures that awareness does not disappear.
Consistency is what turns attention into impact.
Beyond One Day
May 5 is a beginning, not an endpoint.
Awareness only has value when it continues.
There are clear ways to remain engaged:
- Following Indigenous-led organizations keeps you informed and connected
- Hosting or joining discussions helps spread understanding within your community
- Supporting policies that protect Indigenous women addresses the issue at a systemic level
- Participating in vigils and gatherings maintains visibility and remembrance
Each of these actions exists for a reason.
Because change does not come from a single act.
It comes from repeated, intentional effort over time.
This work is not about reacting once.
It is about choosing to remain present.
Our Commitment
At Welcome Native Spirit, we do not see awareness as a trend.
We see it as a responsibility.
We create with intention because what we share carries meaning.
Not every voice has been heard.
Not every story has been told.
But silence should not be the outcome.
Our role is not to speak over the community.
It is to help ensure that the voices are not lost.
Carry the Message With You
Sometimes, awareness is not only expressed through words.
It is carried through what we choose to represent.
Wearing something meaningful becomes a quiet form of visibility.
A way to start conversations without forcing them.
A way to remind others that this issue exists beyond a single day.
This is why symbolic actions matter.
Because symbols stay when moments pass.
If you choose to carry that message, it becomes part of how awareness continues.
Find an Event Near You
Awareness becomes stronger when it is shared in real spaces.
Across the country, communities gather to honor and remember through:
- Prayer walks
- Candlelight vigils
- Awareness marches
- Educational gatherings
These events exist because collective presence reinforces visibility.
If you are able, consider finding a local event near you.
Below is a list of upcoming MMIP observances happening across Indian Country:
ALASKA
AKNWRC Alaska MMIW Week of Awareness — Virtual events hosted by the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center | May 4–8, 2026
ARIZONA
MMIP Prayer Walk — Phoenix Indian Center, Phoenix, AZ | May 2, 2026
MMIP Awareness Day Event — Phoenix, AZ | May 5, 2026
U of A MMIP Awareness Symposium — University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ | May 4, 2026
MMIR Awanress Event — Native Americans for Community Action, Flagstaff, AZ | May 5, 2026
Tuba City MMIP Awareness Walk — Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation, AZ | May 5, 2026
Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Symposium — Navajo Nation Museum, Window Rock, AZ | May 4-5, 2026
CALIFORNIA
MMIP Flag Raising Ceremony — Rincon Indian Health Center, Valley Center, CA | May 5, 2026
Yurok MMIP Awareness Day & Walk — Eureka, CA | May 5, 2026
Annual Candlelight Vigil for MMIP — Sacramento, CA | May 6, 2026
MMIP Awareness Day — Feather River Tribal Health, Inc. Oroville, CA | May 5, 2026
COLORADO
MMIW Broomfield Native Art Market — Brunner Farmhouse, Broomfield, CO | May 2, 2026
HAWAII
Pouhana O Nā Wāhine MMIW Week of Awareness— Hawaii | May 4–8, 2026
MICHIGAN
Annual March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People —Grand Rapids, MI | May 5, 2026
MINNESOTA
National MMIR Day Remembrance Ceremony — Minneapolis American Indian Center, Minneapolis | May 5, 2026
Native Women Run MMIW 5K / 1-Mile Walk — Minneapolis | May 3, 1–4 p.m.
6th Annual Twin Ports National Day of Awareness for MMIWR — Duluth, MN | May 5, 2026
White Earth 4th Annual MMIP Awareness Day Walk & Conference — Mahnomen, MN | May 5, 2026
Bemidji National MMIW Awareness Day Event — Bemidji, MN | May 3, 2026
3rd Annual Red Lake Victim Services MMIW Awareness Run — Red Lake, MN | May 3, 2026
Bois Forte MMIWR Walks — Nett Lake and Tower, MN | May 5, 2026
Film Screening: Who She Is— East Grand Forks, MN | May 5, 2026
MONTANA
MMIP Solidarity Run — Missoula, MT | May 3, 2026
MMIP Awareness Day Community Event — University of Montana, Missoula, MT | May 5, 2026
Montana State Capitol MMIP Walk — Helena, MT | May 5, 2026
To Use One’s Voices: Unique Advocacy Services for MMIP with Haley Omeasoo— Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT | May 5, 2026
NEVADA
Nevada State MMIP Conference — Elka, NV | May 3–5, 2026
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Dept. of Indian Affairs MMIP Awareness Day— Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM | May 5, 2026
Paint the Plaza Red — Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, NM | May 9, 2026
NEW YORK
MMIWGT2S NYC+ EAST COAST SUMMIT — Urban Indigenous Collective, New York City | May 9, 2026
The National Day of Awareness for MMIWGT2S+ : Water Prayer & Vigil — Urban Indigenous Collective, New York City | May 5, 2026
Seneca Nation MMIP Day of Remembrance — Irving, NY | May 5, 2026
NORTH DAKOTA
MMIR2S Healing Circle and Walk — Grand Forks, ND | May 2, 2026
OKLAHOMA
Quapaw Nation MMIP Walk — Quapaw Nation Roadside Park, Quapaw, OK | May 5, 2026
Delaware Tribe MMIP Awareness 5K/Fun Run — Bartlesville, OK | May 2, 2026
Cheyenne & Arapaho Annual MMIP Walk/Parade — Concho Powwow Grounds, Concho, OK | May 8,2026
Choctaw Nation MMIP 5K/1-Mile Run-Walk — Antlers Community Center, Antlers, OK | May 9, 2026
Cherokee Nation MMIP Exhibit — Statewide exhibit | May 1–30, 2026
OREGON
Klamath Tribe MMIP Conference — Chiloquin, OR | May 5, 2026
Human Trafficking and MMIP2S Community Awareness Event — Pendleton, OR | May
SOUTH DAKOTA
MMIR Awareness Vigil — Pierre, SD | May 12, 2026
WASHINGTON STATE
MMIWG2S Honoring Event — Northern Quest Resort and Casino, Spokane, WA | May 5, 2026
WISCONSIN
MMIP Ride — Crandon, WI | May 5, 2026
Menominee Nation MMIP Walk — Keshena, WI | May 5, 2026
Oneida Nation MMIR Walk — Oneida, WI | May 9, 2026
WYOMING
MMIP March, Wind River Reservation — Riverton, WY | May 3, 2026
VIRTUAL / NATIONAL
NIWRC 2026 National Week of Action for MMIWR — Online/nationwide | May 4–8 | Organized by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
They Are Not Forgotten
They are loved.
They are missed.
And they remain part of the story.
Awareness ensures they are remembered.
Action ensures they are not ignored.
And commitment ensures the story continues to be told.
2 Comments
Even though this is such a sad call to action, I continue to support honorable causes like this one especially. I work retail and my employees noticed my blaring red shirt and my MMIW wristband today, May 4th, and asked me about both. Raising awareness and inviting them to check out the facts is what is needed! We can make a positive change. And my employees, and the public, will see another bright red shirt and wristband tomorrow as well! Great Spirit already hears our cries for help, I know.
Standing with you in solidarity in Kansas ❤️🌻❤️