May 5 was a day to honor, remember and raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The MMIW crisis impacts entire communities as families are devastated by the loss of loved ones and face challenges and barriers navigating law enforcement and legal systems that have allowed this epidemic to persist for generations.
A study of 71 U.S. cities by the Urban Indian Health Institute found that Seattle had the highest number of MMIW cases nationally and Washington overall had the second highest number of cases. Washington State has begun taking steps to address this crisis, but long-term solutions involve change at the national and local levels, increasing community safety resources for tribal communities, and education about how centuries of colonial laws and attitudes led to the MMIW crisis.
There are many layers to this epidemic of deadly violence, including the role of domestic violence involving non-Native partners. Most American Indian and Alaska Native victims (97 percent of female and 90 percent of male victims) have experienced at least one act of violence committed by an interracial perpetrator.
NJP's Native American Unit prioritizes cases involving violence
Given that nearly half of the homicides of Indigenous women have been tied to intimate partner violence, civil legal aid offers crucial protections that can prevent dangerous situations from escalating to disappearance or death.
Whether it's securing domestic violence protection orders, resolving child custody disputes, handling housing issues, or advocating for a victim's privacy rights in criminal proceedings, NJP's legal advocacy provides a crucial buffer for those at risk.
In some cases, legal advocates have ensured that eviction orders only apply to the perpetrator, not the victim, stabilizing living conditions for survivors and their children. In other cases, advocates have assisted in terminating guardianship where abuse has been reported. NJP has helped Indigenous teens without guardians to secure legal independence, offering them a way out of risky situations that might lead to worse outcomes such as human trafficking.
The Native American Unit has dedicated attorneys serving Native American victims of crime and an Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Advocacy Program Fellow who provides critical legal assistance in underserved tribal communities in Eastern Washington. Attorneys from multiple NJP offices statewide contribute to this work.
All attorneys working with Native American communities at NJP are committed to understanding systemic issues affecting our clients, such as intergenerational trauma stemming from colonialist government policies aimed at assimilating and dispossessing Native Americans of their land and culture, such as Indian boarding schools, and the legal complexities arising from the intersection of state, federal, and tribal jurisdictions.
By addressing the immediate and structural legal needs related to domestic violence, housing, custody, and more, civil legal aid doesn't just help keep individuals safe it also fosters long-term stability and justice for Indigenous people and contributes to the struggle against the MMIW epidemic.