Tize W. Clark, right and his son, Zion Clark, participate in a walk to honor Native American and Indigenous relatives who have gone missing or have been killed as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day is marked in Albuquerque, N.M., May 5, 2025. (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP Photo)
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.
While May 5 is recognized as the day of awareness in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples movement, events are already starting and planned 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. Many people wear red and paint their faces with red handprints while vowing to speak for those who have been silenced.
Here are some events to raise awareness in California and Arizona:
Arizona
Annual MMIP Prayer Walk - No More Stolen Relatives, Phoenix. Saturday, May 2.
MMIP Awareness Symposium, Tucson. Monday, May 4.
Arizona State Capitol MMIP Awareness March, Phoenix. Tuesday, May 5.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa MMIP Awareness Day events, Scottsdale. Tuesday, May 5.
Safety is Sacred, Phoenix. Tuesday, May 5.
6th Annual Southern Arizona MMIP Awareness 5k Run/Walk, Tucson. Saturday, May 9.
California
Pomo Nation MMIP Awareness Walk, Ukiah. Saturday, May 2.
Yurok MMIP Awareness Walk, Eureka. Tuesday, May 5.
Indian Health Council MMIP Awareness Day, Valley Center. Tuesday, May 5.
Hoopa Valley Tribe MMIP Walk and Vigil, Hoopa. Friday, May 8.
California MMIW Awareness Event, Rohnert Park. Saturday, May 9.
MMIP Self Defense Class, Santa Clara Valley. Friday, May 15.
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