Hello people,
I know it’s been a while since my last post. I have been chaotically busy, but that is not the only reason I have not posted in the past recently. One reason is that I have already shared, what I think is one of the most important things about MMIW, specifically the jurisdictional issues, man camps, and basic lack of awareness from little to no media attention covering this topic. Second reason is.. I am hoping many of you understand this feeling…I have been feeling so helpless about what, if any difference can I make? Even with the combined efforts of organizations, researchers, politicians, scholars and lawyers spearheading awareness to improve MMIW, it is still happening! I know it’s not about me. It’s not about making a big difference overnight. But still, you know…
Anyways, that is way the month-long break from my blog. But, I have still been reading various blogs and news websites about MMIW. While I have wondered what else else to share with all of you in my next blog… even have been reading up on MMIW from almost 2 years ago, I am aware how MMIW moved further into the spotlight when Gabby Petito’s tragic story unfolded. While the new of Gabby’s disappearance caught so much attention from our society, similar stories of Indigenous women who gone missing from the same state, barely made the news.
The media couldn’t stop talking about Gabby’s disappearance last fall. Do you now hear any news about MMIW? I think the answer is no. But I have read this post in yuroktribes.org in the past December that Yurok Tribe in North California issued emergency declaration to raise awareness about their MMIW, as a response to a “ spate of missing persons and attempted human trafficking incidents on the reservation and in Arcata, where there is a disproportionate number of cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW)”
In the post, it talked about a 33 years old mother, Emmilee Risling, who had been missing since mid October of 2021 but it did not make the national news until the end of February. She is still reported as missing, as of today.
Her family talked about the lack of coordination among the law enforcement agencies across different jurisdictions.
Until next time.