Sault Tribe hosts march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

Brianna MacLean
·2 min read

ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WJMN) – The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians held an awareness march in St. Ignace on Sunday afternoon.

Sault Tribe’s Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) hosts an event each year to promote awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives. May 5 is most widely recognized in the United States and Canada as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Day. Research published by the National Institute of Justice indicates that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. This includes stalking, sexual violence, and physical abuse by an intimate partner.

Jess Gillotte-King, the community educator for Sault Tribe’s ARC, says Sunday’s march was a huge success.

“This year we chose St. Ignace for the location of our event. The people of St. Ignace did not disappoint and showed up in droves to represent their community,” said Gillotte-King. “Standing in solidarity with so many kind and caring people who gathered together for a common goal, to end the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous people, was an honor. The ARC looks forward to hosting more events in each of our seven counties to continue to fight for our rights and protection for our indigenous communities.”

Survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, Kim Fyke (L) and Linda Cobe (R), attended Sunday’s march.
Survivors of Indian Boarding Schools, Kim Fyke (L) and Linda Cobe (R), attended Sunday’s march.

Resources are available to Indigenous peoples who are experiencing or have experienced violence. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Victim Services (DVS) partners with federally recognized tribes in Michigan and provides funding for sexual assault, domestic violence and victims services programs that offer services to individual survivors with a culturally honoring approach. Services include a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, shelter, victim rights advocacy, victim advocates, housing relocation assistance and individual client assistance.

DVS also funds the StrongHearts Native Helpline, which is an anonymous and confidential domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives offering culturally appropriate support and advocacy. To contact the StrongHearts helpline, call 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or visit www.StrongHeartsHelpline.org to chat with an advocate.

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