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As Native American Heritage Month dawns in November, it is a poignant moment to reflect on sexual violence within Indigenous communities. The staggering statistics reveal the unsettling prevalence of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW).

Sexual Violence and MMIW

In the United States, Indigenous people are twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to all races. Native American women are disproportionately affected by murders and sexual assaults within reservations and nearby towns, surpassing rates among other American women. Additionally, according to the National Crime Information Center, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in 2016—also known as missing and murdered Indigenous woman (MMIW). These statistics shed light on the distressing extent of sexual violence within Indigenous communities and the intersection between sexual violence and the crisis of MMIW.

MMIW represents the stories and lives of countless Indigenous women and girls who have tragically vanished or lost their lives across the United States and Canada. These women are daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends, and tragically, many of these cases go unsolved or un-investigated.

Resources

If you are a survivor from an Indigenous community or have a loved one from an Indigenous community who needs support and resources, consider reaching out to the following organizations:

• National Sexual Assault Hotline: RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential, and anonymous 24/7 support by phone at 800.656.HOPE (4673) in both English and Spanish, or online in English at online.RAINN.org and in Spanish at RAINN.org/es.
• National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: An organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children through policy advocacy and direct service provision. The NIWRC operates the Strong Hearts Native Helpline, which supports Native survivors of violence in crisis, and facilitates local resource connection. You can connect to this hotline by calling 844.762.8483.

A note on language: The term “Indigenous” is used here to describe many individuals in distinct and unique communities whose lands are within the United States and who define their identities in a variety of ways, including: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native American.