Women’s March for MMIW

Annette Cordero (Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation) organizes a group of Chumash women to support the MMIW movement—Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. This social justice movement raises awareness about the disproportionately high rates of violence, abduction, and murder faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people across North America, especially in the United States and Canada.

The MMIW movement is critically important because it confronts a crisis that has persisted for generations, largely ignored by mainstream society and institutions. Indigenous women are significantly more likely to experience violence than other groups—over 80% experience violence in their lifetimes, and they are ten times more likely to be murdered than the national average in some areas. These injustices are compounded by systemic failures, such as underreporting, jurisdictional confusion between tribal, state, and federal agencies, and a lack of investigative urgency when Indigenous people go missing.

By coming together, our Chumash women not only honor the strength and resilience of their community but also shine a light on the urgent need for justice, accountability, and protection for Indigenous women everywhere. Their presence amplifies the voices of the many families who continue to search for answers and healing, demanding change to end this ongoing epidemic of violence.