Every year on Feb. 14, the annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) march takes place at the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) where many Indigenous and non-Indigenous come together to remember those missing and murdered while also marching to spread awareness about MMIR. Various organizations come together to organize and hold this march, including the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC), the MAIC and many more.

The MAIC opened doors at 10:30 a.m. as attendees started to arrive and filter into the building. As attendees entered, many found small areas to sit and wait prior to the opening prayer and speeches. As the attendees waited, many lined up to grab this year's MMIR shirt to not only wear during the march but to keep as a memento. Others visited the various information tables that many organizations had like the MMIR office and more.

Later as the attendees entered the gym, Chief Executive Officer of MIWSAC Nicole Matthews greeted everyone in both Ojibwe and English. After Matthews’ greeting, an opening prayer was said to officially signal the start of the event. After the opening prayer, the microphone was handed back to Matthews, a recurring interaction seen between Matthews and the event speakers.

“We want policies that reflect our communities and are accountable to our people. We want the media to be more accountable and to make sure that our stories are in the media when we go missing. You know we want actions so that we can prevent this violence from happening.” Matthews said.

There were five speakers, excluding Matthews, that were given the microphone. Among the chosen speakers were the families of Kateri Mishow and Nevah Kingbird, Interim Director of the MMIR Office Ana Negrete and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

The families of Mishow and Kingbird shared about their missing loved ones, some memories they had of them and their wishes for them to be brought home. These families are just two of the many documented and undocumented cases of missing Indigenous relatives in the United States.

“Listening to the stories of those who are survivors is one of the most important ways to strengthen our community,” Flanagan said.

Following the speakers, attendees were given a moment to share the names of other Indigenous relatives who had gone missing, before filtering out to the streets for the march. Many of the attendees held signs and banners that had the names of missing Indigenous relatives and slogans like, “No more Stolen Sisters, Brothers and Relatives”. At various points during the march, above the group chant, many shouted out the names of Missing relatives. As the march went on, observers waved and cheered; even a few cars honked their horns.

“It’s important because of the visibility of us as Indigenous people of this land and the murders and Indigenous epidemics happen for a long time. So when we show up in numbers like this, we show power,” attendee and Native Roots Radio host Robert Pilot said.

The event slowly came to a close once everyone made it back to the Minneapolis Indian Center. Many filtered in to grab a hot meal and hold space before closing out the event by reading the list of the Missing Relatives and the ones found.

“We have seen again and again that together in partnership we are stronger. In partnership, we can accomplish more and together we will change the tide on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives,” said Negrete.