May 5, 2025: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

WHEREAS,American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and more specifically American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have long endured domestic violence, homicide, sexual assault, and abuse at disproportionately higher rates than other groups; and,

WHEREAS, on this Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we reaffirm our commitment to honor the lives of murdered and missing American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, particularly women and girls, and continue to shine a light on egregious and unconscionable treatment toward and against American Indian and Alaska Native peoples; and,

WHEREAS,collaboration and resourcefulness are necessary to combat systemic failures that continue to complicate the investigation and resolution of cases of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, including issues of jurisdictional overlap or gaps; and,

WHEREAS, more than four out of five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, including more than half who have experienced sexual violence; and, 

WHEREAS, as many as 85% of Indigenous Two Spirit individuals who fulfill one of many mixed gender roles traditionally found in many Indigenous groups have been a victim of violence; and,

WHEREAS,in response to this epidemic of violence, the State of Michigan is committed to working with Tribal governments to address the historic traumas experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and to develop policies and procedures necessary to allocate resources to reduce, investigate, and resolve incidents of violence perpetrated against American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and more specifically American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls; and,

WHEREAS, identifying the root causes of the risk to American Indian and Alaska Native peoples is key to addressing historic traumas and their systemic impacts, collecting and reporting data, improving access to justice, increasing government accountability, reducing and eliminating violence, and helping American Indian and Alaska Native communities heal; and,  

WHEREAS, on this day, we reaffirm our commitment to bringing an end to the “Silent Crisis” happening amongst American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country and remaining silent no more.

NOW, THEREFORE,I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2025, as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in Michigan. I call upon the State of Michigan, its local governments and Tribal communities in the state of Michigan to increase awareness of and resources for the crisis of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, and more specifically American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, through appropriate programs, activities, and funding.