April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) closely follows public policy analysis and research surrounding the systemic violence suffered by Indigenous women. In recognition of SAAM, AIPI would like to take some time and space to discuss the recent 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and its projected effect on Indigenous communities.
MMIWG
During this year's Native American Heritage Month, Tribal leaders and high-level White House Officials constructed discourse with respect to issues important in Indian Country. The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit (the Summit), hosted by the White House, was held on November 15th and 16th. This is the first time the Summit has taken place since 2016.
Today is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Day of Awareness. You may have seen the hashtags: #MMIWG #WhyWeWearRed #NoMoreStolenSisters #NotInvisible You may have seen your colleagues posting pictures of themselves wearing red or with a red hand-print on their faces. We do this because we can’t march to show our solidarity. We do this to bring attention to the injustices indigenous women continue to experience in the 21st Century.