Monday, May 3, 2021 – How governments can help solve the missing and murdered crisis
U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Debra Haaland created a new unit to seek justice for missing and murdered Indigenous people. The initiative includes the influx of $5 million to review unsolved cases and coordinate work among other agencies and organizations. Oklahoma just instituted a law that requires coordination among state and federal officials on cases involving missing and murdered Native people. These are among the efforts elected leaders have instituted to try and address the problem. We’ll get a view of what’s showing promise in combating the epidemic taking a toll on Indigenous people in the United States.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Expanding the missing and murdered focus
Many advocates focus on solving the problem of missing and murdered women and girls because they are vulnerable to the prevalent violence and neglect that contributes to the problem. But the missing and murdered efforts are expanding to include other groups. A 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice found significantly more Indigenous men are missing than women. Native gay and trans men and women are targets of persecution and exploitation, increasing their chances of falling victim to violence. We’ll take a look at some of the groups and individuals who aren’t as prominent in the effort to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 – Those left behind
Each missing and murdered Indigenous person retains a connection to family members, loved ones, and friends. Their absence leaves an empty space in their communities and a lifetime of pain and trauma. Unanswered questions surrounding a missing person or unresolved crime just compound the misery. In this hour, family members of missing and murdered people remember their loved ones and discuss the legacy they are forced to carry.
Thursday, May 6, 2021 – The threat to Indigenous people in Canada and Mexico
Indigenous people all over the world are disproportionately represented among those who are missing or murdered. Canada released a national inquiry into missing and murdered women and others in 2019, calling for major reforms among governments, businesses, advocacy organizations and social service providers. The country likely will not meet the deadline this June for an action plan, but lawmakers just allocated more than $2.2 billion to help Indigenous women. In Mexico, the murder of women is becoming one of the country’s top criminal issues. Lack of funding, corruption and poverty all fuel a growing crisis where few of the murders, especially of Indigenous women, are investigated, much less prosecuted. We’ll take time to look at the Missing and Murdered issue in our neighboring countries.
Friday, May 7, 2021 – Sharing awareness through art and culture
Red dresses hanging in forests and government meeting spaces; Red hand prints on people’s faces and shirts; photo portraits of grieving family members. They are among the artistic expressions that raise awareness of missing and murdered Native people to the general public. The issue is a touchstone for creative individuals. We’ll talk with artists about what draws them to the issue and what effect they hope to have.
