The Names That Refuse to Be Forgotten
Across North America, the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) is more than a tragedy—it’s a failure of justice. For generations, Native families have searched for their daughters, mothers, sisters, and aunties, often met with silence, indifference, or worse—blame.
But one organization, armed with truth and tenacity, is turning that silence into a war cry.
At the heart of this fight is Dr. Annita Lucchesi, founder of the Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI). More than an academic, more than an advocate, she is a force of nature reshaping how the U.S. and Canada confront one of their most shameful realities.
Sovereign Bodies Institute: The Heart of the Movement
Founded in 2018, SBI is more than a nonprofit—it’s a lifeline. The institute curates the most comprehensive public-facing database of MMIWG2S (Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people) in the United States and Canada.
As of 2021, that list held 4,749 names.
Each one is not just data—it’s a person. A life. A story stolen.
Lucchesi explains, “We don’t wait for police reports. We go directly to the families. To the aunties. The grandmothers. The ones who are still holding vigils with no answers.”
When the System Turns Its Back
Law enforcement across North America has a long, documented history of failing Indigenous women. Cases are closed prematurely. Victims are labeled as “runaways,” “drug users,” or “prostitutes.” Reports are never filed. Calls go unanswered.
“There is no national system that works for us,” Lucchesi says. “So we built our own.”
The SBI’s grassroots approach relies on social media, oral histories, tribal archives, and the voices of survivors. Their mission: to hold the system accountable, and to honor the women the system forgot.
A Crisis in Plain Sight
According to the Urban Indian Health Institute, 84% of Indigenous women will experience violence in their lifetime.
Many cases go completely unreported. Jurisdictional loopholes between federal, state, and tribal agencies create a maze that perpetrators navigate with impunity. Some tribal police departments have no authority to arrest non-Native suspects—even on tribal land.
And yet, these cases are rarely national news. Rarely front-page. Rarely treated with urgency.
Not Just Numbers—People
Among the thousands of names in SBI’s database are women like:
- Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, 18, found murdered in Montana in 2019. Her case remains unsolved.
- Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, last seen on the Blackfeet Reservation in 2017.
- Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, murdered in Fargo, North Dakota, in 2017, days before giving birth.
Their faces rarely appear on missing person bulletins. Their families are forced to become detectives, advocates, and investigators—because no one else will.
Operation Lady Justice—and the Broken Promises That Came With It
In 2019, the U.S. government launched Operation Lady Justice, a federal task force meant to address the MMIWG crisis. It promised cold case reviews, improved data, and tribal cooperation.
But according to Lucchesi? “It’s a mirage.”
“Not one family we work with has been contacted by them. There are no updates. No transparency. No trust.”
In 2021, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland—the first Native woman in a presidential Cabinet—established the Missing and Murdered Unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It was hailed as a landmark step forward.
But advocates remain wary, citing a familiar pattern: performative politics without real change.
The Pandemic’s Shadow
COVID-19 only made things worse.
- Domestic violence soared.
- Law enforcement pulled back.
- Tribal communities were left isolated.
During lockdown, SBI recorded a spike in homicides, many of them ignored or misclassified. In a system where Indigenous women are already invisible, the pandemic pushed them even further into the shadows.
Community-Led Justice: When the Families Step In
From search parties to data mapping, it’s often the families and grassroots groups—not the police—who find the missing.
When someone disappears, it’s not a badge that starts the search—it’s a mother. A sister. A friend.
And SBI is right beside them, turning grief into action.
Lucchesi says, “We’ve seen women found alive because community members took it into their own hands. That’s the power of Indigenous resilience.”
The Sacred Path Forward
What does justice look like?
- Real accountability from police departments and elected officials.
- Full tribal sovereignty, allowing Indigenous nations to prosecute non-Native offenders.
- Public databases, so no one can hide the numbers again.
- And most importantly—centering the voices of survivors.
Lucchesi believes the answers are already within Native communities: “We don’t need saviors. We need amplification. And action.”
FAQs: Understanding the MMIWG Crisis
What is MMIWG2S?
It stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people, a movement to raise awareness about violence against Native communities.
Why are Indigenous women more vulnerable to violence?
Systemic racism, colonialism, jurisdictional gaps, and poverty contribute to disproportionate violence against Indigenous women.
How can I help?
Support Native-led organizations like SBI, attend awareness events like Red Dress Day, and pressure local officials to prioritize these cases.
Is there a national MMIWG database?
Not officially—but SBI’s database is the most comprehensive public record available today.
What is Red Dress Day?
Held on May 5, it honors the lives of MMIWG2S through installations of empty red dresses, symbolizing those who are no longer with us.