MMIW & MMIP (Missing Murdered Indigenous Women & Missing Murdered Indigenous People) – Protecting Our Sacred

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I am not talking about MMIW/MMIP from far away. I am a Native woman who has survived sexual abuse, brutal assault, abandonment, poverty, and systems that looked away when they should have intervened. I have also watched how our communities protect each other when we are given a chance to use our own teachings and intelligence.

This work is my way of helping us remember and practice the skills our grandmothers had—reading signs, trusting bodies, looking out for each other—and combining them with what we now know from trauma science, relational safety research, and lived experience.

My commitment is to hold this work with as much care and honesty as possible, always putting community safety, dignity, and sovereignty first.

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The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two‑Spirit people

(MMIW/MMIP) is not abstract to me. I have lived close to it in my own life and through the lives of relatives and communities I work with.

Much of the existing work focuses on what happens after someone goes missing—better data, improved investigations, new laws. These pieces are needed. But we also need real prevention rooted in our bodies, our teachings, and our relationships.

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My MMIW/MMIP work focuses on prevention and healing through a four‑direction approach:

mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual—braided with somatic practice and ancestral knowledge.

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Mental – Seeing the Pattern Clearly

– Predator behavior and grooming recognition

– Environmental threat assessment (in person and online)

– Historical context of violence against Indigenous women and people

– Systems literacy: how jurisdiction, racism, and policies create gaps

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Physical – Claiming the Body as Sacred Territory

– Somatic awareness and intuition (noticing body signals)

– Body sovereignty and consent, including with family and partners

– Basic self‑defense and escape strategies grounded in Indigenous warrior teachings (where appropriate)

– Harm‑reduction approaches when leaving a situation is complex

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Emotional – Healing, Boundaries, and Kinship Webs

– Understanding how trauma and shame make us more vulnerable

– Recognizing early red flags in relationships and interactions

– Emotional boundary setting and enforcement (even when it feels uncomfortable)

– Kinship web mapping: Who would notice if I went missing? Where is my weave thin?

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Spiritual – Ancestral and Ceremonial Protection

– Traditional protective practices (songs, prayers, medicines) in ways that respect each tribe’s protocols

– Spiritual boundaries: who and what we allow into our spiritual space

– Asking ancestors and Creator for guidance and protection

– Connecting care of land, water, and body as interconnected safety

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MMIP Related Prevention Workshops (60–90 min / Half‑Day / Full‑Day)

For youth, women, two‑spirit relatives, community members, and helpers. Focus on predator recognition, body awareness, boundaries, and kinship web safety.

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– Healing Circles & Retreats for Families and Survivors

Trauma‑informed, ceremony‑aware circles and retreats that center story, somatic practices, and cultural teachings

 

—without forcing disclosure or reenactment.

– Trainings for Law Enforcement, Advocates, and Systems Staff

On how to engage families, understand historical/contextual trauma, and partner with Indigenous communities in respectful, accountable ways.

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– Curriculum Development & Implementation Support
 

Customization Note:

All MMIW/MMIP work is co‑designed with community leaders, families, and cultural advisors. There is no one‑size‑fits‑all agenda; the work must fit the land, protocols, and people where it is offered.