On February 14, 2025, more than 100 people gathered in Duluth, Minnesota, for the 10th Annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW/R). The march, which focused on raising awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, particularly in Wisconsin and Minnesota, was co-sponsored by the Native Lives Matter Coalition and No More MMIW/R Great Lakes, with support from various organizations, including the Wisconsin MMIW/R Task Force and the Minnesota MMIR Office.
The Memorial March took place in the frigid winter weather, beginning with an opening ceremony at the American Indian Community Housing Center on 2nd Street, followed by a procession down Superior Street and concluding at the Building for Women on 1st Street. The event was not just a demonstration but a powerful act of solidarity, remembrance, and activism. It aimed to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced by violence and to bring attention to the plight of Indigenous communities who have long been disproportionately affected by violence, abduction, and murder.
The significance of the event was highlighted by various speakers, including Ricky Defoe, a Fond du Lac tribal elder, who opened the ceremony with prayers and comments on the importance of the Memorial March for raising awareness. Rene Ann Goodrich, a Bad River Tribal member from Wisconsin and one of the organizers of the march, expressed gratitude to the participants, recognizing their support for the MMIW/R movement. Goodrich acknowledged the families who continue to seek justice and healing, emphasizing the importance of visibility in the ongoing fight for justice.
“Visibility is the number one,” Goodrich said, reflecting on the growth of the movement over the past decade. “Over the past 10 years this has grown into a huge movement across the state, across the nation, and is now recognized on the federal level.” Each participant in the march was given a small amount of tobacco, a traditional spiritual offering. “This tobacco carries our prayers, carries our hopes, and sends those prayers out to our Creator,” Goodrich explained.
In addition to the moving words of the organizers, Dr. Marsha Lue, the Human Rights and Equity Officer for the Duluth mayor’s office, read a proclamation signed by Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert. The proclamation highlighted the stark statistics regarding violence against Indigenous women, noting that Native American women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average. It also acknowledged the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people in Minnesota, emphasizing the need for continued action to address these disparities.
Superior Mayor Jim Paine also shared a proclamation, further underscoring the personal and emotional significance of the issue. Paine, whose wife, Jenny Van Sickle, is the first Native American member of the Superior city council, highlighted the importance of creating a community that sees, protects, and values Indigenous women. Paine, who has three Native American daughters, stressed the need to spread awareness not only within the community but to the broader public to ensure the safety and well-being of Indigenous people.
“We need to tell the story of those that have been lost,” Paine said. “We need to bring awareness of who it is we are protecting… We need to talk about culture, we need to share culture and stories, and elevate the people in our community that we are actually protecting.” He concluded by emphasizing that the work to protect Indigenous women and ensure justice for those who are missing or murdered must be a daily effort.
Desiree Tody, a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Wisconsin and a direct descendant of Chief Buffalo, shared her experiences as both an advocate and a survivor. Tody, who works for the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASDA) in Ashland and Bayfield counties, read the names of those who had died in Minnesota in 2024 due to domestic violence. She highlighted the disturbing trend that many of the offenders were on parole or had been previously reported for domestic violence. Tody stressed that every life lost to domestic violence is preventable and encouraged the community to recognize warning signs of abuse and to intervene before violence occurs.
“If you see signs in your own relationship or that of a relative, we need to say something,” Tody urged. She also shared her personal story of overcoming an abusive relationship, emphasizing the crucial support she received from her family and community. “Without each and every one of these people, I may not have made it out,” Tody said, underscoring the importance of collective effort in the fight against violence.
Tonya Kjerland, Tribal Relations Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Health, spoke about the alarming statistics related to Indigenous people in Minnesota. Although Indigenous women make up less than 1% of the state’s population, they account for 10% of the missing females in Minnesota. In total, 716 Indigenous people were reported missing in the state in 2024, with 57% of them being women. Kjerland encouraged the public to raise awareness by purchasing a MMIR license plate, with proceeds going toward a reward fund to help solve these cases.
The Memorial March was not only a call for justice but also a space for families and friends to share their stories. Brian Stillday Jr., a community health educator for the Boise Forte/Red Lake Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota, spoke about the tragic murder of his older brother, Corey Whitefeather Jr., who was killed in 2023 while trying to protect his home. Kayla Jackson, a tribal member from Nevada, shared the painful story of the disappearance of Peter Martin from the Fond du Lac Reservation in March 2024. Martin’s family continues to search for him, with a $5,000 reward offered for any information that might help locate him.
Linda Martin, Peter’s sister, expressed the emotional toll the family has endured as they continue to wait for answers. “It gets harder with each passing month,” she said, emphasizing the community’s support in their search. Jackson encouraged people who might be hesitant to report tips to law enforcement to consider reaching out directly to the Martin family, reinforcing the importance of community-led efforts in finding missing individuals.
Finally, the family of Sheila St. Clair, a Fond du Lac member missing from Duluth since August 2015, shared their ongoing grief. Her younger sister spoke of the heartache of frequently thinking she recognizes Sheila in a crowd, only to realize it’s not her. “I am so lonesome without my big sister,” she said, mourning the loss of her sibling and remembering the beauty and strength of the woman she once was.
The Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives serves as a poignant reminder of the widespread violence facing Indigenous communities, particularly women, and the critical need for systemic change. It calls on individuals, communities, and governments to work together to ensure justice, safety, and dignity for Indigenous peoples. The fight for justice will continue, and the march is a testament to the resilience and determination of those who will not stop until every missing person is found and every victim is honored.
