Red Shawl Day on Nov. 19 honors missing and murdered Indigenous people
Download mp3 (1.38 MB)Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation
Gabriel Pietrorazio/KJZZ
A Native woman with red handprint over her mouth supports the Murdered Missing Indigenous Women, or MMIW movement, at the 2023 Native American Connections' Parade in Phoenix.
Today on Red Shawl Day and throughout the week, people are encouraged to wear a red shawl or other red clothing as a way to acknowledge the loss of sacred lifeblood.
Memorial and prayer services are dedicated to remembering the memory of missing and murdered loved ones, especially women and children. Native communities have long struggled with high rates of assault, abduction and murder of women.
Arizona accounts for a tenth of all open cases of missing Indigenous peoples compiled by NamUS, or the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. It’s the third highest total in the nation, only behind Alaska and Oklahoma.
NPS
The National Park Service recognizes Red Shawl Day every November 19.
More stories from KJZZ
- Under Pressure From Federal Judge, Arizona Changes Prison Health Care Policies
- Apache Stronghold welcomes faith groups to save Oak Flat through prayer
