May 5th marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (#MMIWR). On this day, we remember and honor the lives of our loved ones who have suffered violence and been lost in our communities.
This crisis highlights the alarming rates at which Native women and their relatives are harmed or killed in the United States, its territories, and Canada, pointing to deeper systemic issues such as inadequate law enforcement responses, jurisdictional challenges, and racial discrimination.
Tackling this epidemic calls for immediate action from all levels of government to improve data collection, strengthen legal frameworks, and provide culturally appropriate support services for Indigenous communities. It underscores the greater vulnerabilities faced by Indigenous peoples, which necessitate thorough, community-driven, and culturally aware responses.
This year, on May 5, 2025, the City of Cincinnati formally recognized Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives’ Day. It marked a powerful moment of public acknowledgment.. This victory is rooted in years of organizing, storytelling, and advocacy by Urban Native Collective and our allies, bringing unprecedented visibility to our stories and struggles.
This historic proclamation states:
Be It Proclaimed: That the city of Cincinnati hereby recognizes May 5, 2025 as Missing and Mu*dered Indigenous Relatives Day of Awareness(MMIR); and
Whereas, Native American Peoples experience murders and abductions at a rate that is four times higher than the National average; and
Whereas, The Indigenous People of Cincinnati are an integral part of the city; and
Whereas, The City of Cincinnati stands on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and who remain here today despite broken treaties and acts of removal; and
Whereas, The City of Cincinnati moves to acknowledge and raise awareness of the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.
Now, Therefore, I, Aftab Pureval,
Mayor of the City of Cincinnati do hereby proclaim May 5, 2025 As “MMIR Day of Awareness” in Cincinnati.