Saturday, January 20th, 2018
Tens of thousands packed Cal Anderson Park as thousands more packed the surrounding streets during the 2018 Women’s March. The march wound from Capitol Hill down Pine to Westlake Park before ending at Seattle Center.
The march was led by Indigenous people honoring missing and murdered Indigenous Women.
From the committee: “We would like to respectfully invite all families of M.M.I.W. victims to attend. We seek to bring awareness to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and colonial gender based violence in the United States and Canada.”
What: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Washington March
When: January 20th 2018 9 AM
Where: Cal Anderson Park 1635 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Contact: Roxanne White nimiipuuroxy206@gmail.com
Key Details: The march starts at Cal Anderson Park & ends at The Seattle Center.
Indigenous people will meet at 9:00 AM at Cal Anderson Park, by the stage. We are aware that the march doesn’t start until 11:30 AM, but we want to have adequate time to honor the M.M.I.W. families that have confirmed attendance.
9:00 AM Opening Prayers—Blake Shelafoe & Cecile Ann Hansen~a descendant within the family of Chief Si ‘ahl («Chief Seattle») — has served as the elected chair of Duwamish people since 1975.
Opening Song—Melinda James (Quileute, Skokomish, Muckleshoot)
Speaker – Deborah Parker (Tulalip/Yaqui)
Honoring the Families of our M.M.I.W.—Jacqueline Salyers family, Renee Davis family, Jessica Santos family, Ashley Loring family, Giovanna Colfax Tyler Makah family, Leona LeClair Kinsey family & Misty Upham family.
Bring banners, signs, posters, drums, rattles, songs & prayers.
We will line up immediately after the ceremony on East Pine Street, then proceed down 4th Avenue toward Westlake, ending at Seattle Center and meeting at the John T. Williams Totem Pole
Please bring folding chairs for elders if you can.
If there are any additional MMIW families that are attending or would like to attend that we have not confirmed or listed please contact jeri@Innovationshtc.org
Organizers statements
“As an Indigenous woman & Grandmother I have survived much trauma. I have often prayed and asked creator how and why did I survive and so many of my sister’s did not. My path has taken me on many front-lines of grassroots movements to use my voice for Justice. It has been a honor & humbling experience to assist on coordinating & organizing the Indigenous led portion of this Seattle Women’s March 2018. Our only purpose is to honor the M.I.W.W. families & bring awareness to the world of this Epidemic in Our Nations across Turtle Island, Canada & North America. I believe in my spirit that I have been called speak out & stand for all those that don’t have a voice.” ~Roxanne White (Yakama)
“Awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women is the people’s movement, based on grief and unjust work by authorities. We are taking our voice back. When a sister can’t, I will. When I can’t, a sister will. This isn’t just my voice, this is the voice of all Indigenous Women. When there is a need within the people, we step up and speak up. We must take any platform we can to bring awareness, we are not just statistics. Women are healers, life giving sacred beings; the violence against us must stop.” ~Ixtli White Hawk
“Our Indigenous Women are spiritual beings. We have a close connection to the universe and all living beings. We are a door to the Spiritual realm. We are closely connected to the water and our Mother-earth. We are the original stewards and caretakers of this land. We teach our Children to carry on these traditions. Therefore, I think our women and children are being targeted by our government and Corporate entities. Our Indigenous Women are the most oppressed amongst all the Nations. Statistics show it; Indigenous Women have ten times the National average for sexual and domestic assault. Homicide is the 5th leading cause of death amongst Native American Women. 70% of these cases go un-prosecuted. The authorities; the police, children protective services, and the federal government don’t want to properly investigate our cases. Our cases go un-investigated, placed on the back burner, or go mislabeled. Our children continue to be taken from us and placed outside of our families. Some of the children become lost and unattached from their People. They conform to this colonial society, or they self-destruct; including, selling themselves in these man camps to survive, or committing suicide. There is a close connection to our Indigenous People and what the Corporations are doing to our environment. If our People lose our connection to the universe and our Mother-earth, we will all perish. We need to address our Indigenous People’s issues and help them heal. Our Indigenous People need to be the first thought, and not the last. When we help the most oppressed, our Indigenous Women heal, our whole Nation will heal, our Mother-earth will heal. When Our Indigenous Women Rise, we all Rise! Come help us uplift Our Indigenous Women and Children.” ~Earth Feather Sovereign (Colville)
