The alarming rates of abduction and murder of Native women represent one of the most devastating issues facing Tribal communities. On some reservations, Native women face murder rates more than ten times the national average. These disappearances and murders are often directly linked to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and longstanding harms impacting Indigenous communities. Grassroots movements have grown at the local, regional, national, and international levels to honor lives lost and work toward lasting safety and justice for all missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives.
The 2026 National Week of Action for MMIWR takes place May 4-8, 2026. Download the official poster, print it, and display it in your window, office, or community space. Help us build a national wall of visibility by sharing it on social media using #MMIWRNationalWeekofAction and help spread from coast to coast.
- Homicide is roughly the third leading cause of death among Indigenous women ages 10-24.
- 56.1% have experienced sexual violence, 55.5% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, and 48.8% have experienced stalking.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that there were 10,248 missing Indigenous persons reports in 2024. 5,614 were women, and 4,626 were men. Most women reported missing were under the age of 18.
- 64 percent of human trafficking victims in Hawaii identified as at least part Native Hawaiian.
- The 10 states with the highest rates of American Indian/Alaska Native missing persons cases in 2025 were AK, AZ, OK, WA, NM, CA, MT, NC, SD, and TX.
- 95 percent of cases identified by the Urban Indian Health Institute had not been covered by the mainstream media.
- Because of limited data, there is no reliable nationwide count of how many Native women go missing or are murdered each year.
In 2017, the Montana Congressional Delegation secured the passage of a Senate resolution declaring May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives. This resolution was a direct response to the demands for justice following the 2013 murder of Hanna Harris on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Due to an inadequate law enforcement response, Hanna's family and friends were forced to conduct their own search. Their relentless pursuit of justice sparked community-led marches and advocacy efforts, not only for Hanna but for the countless cases that remain unresolved. Since 2017, the national movement to end violence against Indigenous women has continued to elevate May 5th as a day of remembrance, action, and advocacy.
However, raising public awareness alone is not enough—action and accountability are necessary to address the crisis of MMIWR. The National Day of Awareness calls for:
- Honoring the lives of our missing and murdered relatives.
- Shedding light on the countless tragedies impacting Native women and communities.
- Highlighting the need for ongoing grassroots advocacy and organizing for change of laws, policies, protocols, and allocation of increased resources at the Tribal, federal, and state levels to end these injustices.
- Sharing information needed to understand and drive legal reforms and change.
- A Step-By-Step Guide To Requesting An MMIWR Proclamation In Your State
- Fact Sheet: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives
- Not One More: the Not Invisible Act Commission Final Report
- MMIWR Toolkit for Families and Communities
- MMIWR State Legislative Tracker
- Savanna's Act Fact Sheet
- Not Invisible Act Fact Sheet
- Restoration Magazine Special Edition: Missing and Murdered Women
- When a Loved One Goes Missing: A Quick Reference Guide for Families of Missing Indigenous Women: What to Do in the First 72 Hours
- MMIWR Toolkit for Families and Communities
- Guidelines and Best Practices for Journalists, Family Members, and Tribal Officials to Improve Media Coverage of MMIP Cases
- War on Indigenous Women: A Short Guide for Journalists Reporting on MMIWG
- Covering the Violence Against Women Act in Indian Country
- Silence and Omissions: A Media Guide for Covering Violence
States highlighted in red have active Week of Action organizing. Find your state, request a gubernatorial proclamation, and use our step-by-step toolkit.
See which states have active organizing, access proclamation resources, and find your governor's contact information.
Customize the 2026 National Week of Action campaign graphics to share on your own social media channels. Add your organization's logo, use our hashtags, and help spread the call to action.
Use Our TemplatesCopy and paste any of the following posts to join the conversation for the 2026 National Week of Action. Tag @NIWRC and add the hashtags #WhyWeWearRed #MMIWRWeekofAction #MMIWR #NoMoreStolenSisters!
Today is May 5, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives. We wear red to honor those we've lost and to demand the justice they deserve. No more stolen relatives. Learn more: niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness
On some reservations, Native women are murdered at 10 times the national average. This is a crisis and it demands action. Join @NIWRC for the 2026 National Week of Action for MMIWR, May 4–8. Learn more: niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness
We can't fully count what's being ignored. Because of limited data, there is no reliable nationwide count of how many Native women go missing or are murdered each year. Invisibility is not an accident — it's a failure of systems meant to protect them. Learn more: niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness
Native women deserve safety. Native women deserve visibility. Native women deserve justice. Learn more about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives at niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness
