AP- Indigenous peoples across North America are gathering this month to raise awareness about the disproportionate violence in their communities while demanding sustained response from authorities.
Today, May 5th is recognized as the day of awareness in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples movement but events have already started and will carry on throughout the month. In Canada, it’s referred to as Red Dress Day after Métis artist Jaime Black used the garments as a symbol of what Black said is gendered and racialized violence.
Events include prayer walks, art exhibits, self-defense classes, film screenings, 5k runs, healing circles, and marches and speeches at U.S. state capitols to plead for better cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Justice Department data shows Indigenous women are more than twice as likely to be homicide victims than the national average and advocates say many cases recieve little to no media coverage.
Many people wear red and paint their faces with red handprints while vowing to speak for those who have been silenced.
The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska will hold a march to Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall this evening at 5 p.m.