Indianz.Com > News > StrongHearts Native Helpline: Honoring our missing and murdered relatives

StrongHearts Native Helpline Honors Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives on May 5
Thursday, May 5, 2022
As a helpline dedicated to serving Native Americans and Alaska Natives impacted by domestic, dating and sexual violence, StrongHearts Native Helpline honors our relatives and communities impacted by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) and those working to end this crisis.
StrongHearts understands the issues of MMIR are related to domestic, dating and sexual violence. We know that missing and murdered victims can be children, elders, Two-Spirit, men and those with disabilities. This crisis affects all of our relatives.
Research shows that women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner (husband, boyfriend, same-sex partner, or ex) than by anyone else. Over 84 percent of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. Nationally, across all racial and ethnic groups, approximately two out of five female murder victims are killed by an intimate partner.
Homicide is a leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women. Many killings linked to domestic violence occur right after recent breakups or during separations. Leaving an abusive relationship is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence.
Individuals: How You Can Help
● Wear red on May 5 and post a photo on social media with the hashtag #MMIR
● Read How to Support a Loved One in an Abusive Relationship
● Read Colonization and Domestic Violence
● View and share these three new short MMIR PSA’s on StrongHearts’ YouTube channel.
● Like, follow and share organizations working on the MMIR crisis on social media
- Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (AKNWRC): Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
- Lakota People’s Law Project: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
- MMIW USA: Facebook
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC): Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
- Not Our Native Daughters: Facebook
- Sovereign Bodies Institute: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
- When a relative goes missing, contact your local news media (print, TV and radio) to encourage them to get the word out. News media can be reached by phone, email or on their social media pages.
Organizations: How You Can Help
● Wear red on May 5 and post a photo on social media with the hashtag #MMIR
● Center BIPOC voices on your platforms
● Donate to organizations doing the work
● Partner with organizations doing the work on events, calls to action and awareness campaigns
● Provide information and support via employment assistance programs
StrongHearts Native Helpline, which is available for free nationwide, is a culturally-appropriate, anonymous, confidential service dedicated to serving Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence and concerned relatives and friends. Knowledgeable advocates provide peer support, crisis intervention, personalized safety planning and referrals to Native-centered support services.
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