Advocating for Systems Change for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives

The epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives is rooted in colonial systems. The establishment of the first statewide task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women by Minnesota in 2019, coupled with the 2021 Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaskan Natives, provides opportunity for change.

Join us for a day of presentations and panels to learn more from the intrepid leaders who have advocated for change at local, state, and federal levels; and to have honest conversations about what needs to be done to ensure that the policy measures taken by state and federal governments result in intentional, systemic solutions.

Friday, April 29,
8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

REGISTER

Lunch will be provided for those who register to attend in person.
CART Captions for virtual attendees.

Program: 

8:30-9:00        Registration and Tea

9:00-9:30        Opening Remarks
                         Humphrey School Professor Christina Ewig, Welcome
                         Great-grandmother Mary Lyons, Prayer
                         Humphrey School Dean Nisha Botchway
                         Jayme Davis, Words from the Organizers
                         Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan

9:30-9:45        Video Address: Relocation Revisited: Colonial Roots of MMIWG 
                         Professor Sarah Deer, introduced by An Garagiola

9:45-10:45      Keynote Address: Mobilizing to Find the Missing
                         Lissa Yellow Bird Chase, introduced by Jayme Davis

10:45-11:00    Break

11:00-12:00    Panel Discussion: State Policy Initiatives Advocating for Change
                         Rep. Ruth Buffalo, Sen. Mary Kunesh, Nicole MartinRogers*, Roger Smith, Sr.* 
                         Moderator: Nicole Matthews

12:00-1:00      Lunch

1:00-1:15        Video Address: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, introduced by Christina Ewig

1:15-2:15        Panel Discussion: Tribal, State and Federal Strategies to Address MMIR
                         Brian Pottratz, Juliet Rudie, Jon Roesler, Allison Randall*
                         Moderator: Audrianna Goodwin

2:15-2:30        Break

2:30- 3:30       Panel Discussion: Social and Systems Change
                         Cary Waubanascum Hawpetos*, Greg LeBeau, Jessica Gidagaakoons Smith
                         Moderator: Marisa Cummings

3:30-4:00        Closing Remarks
                         Great-grandmother Mary Lyons
                         Lyz Jaakola

*denotes virtual presenter

Click for Virtual Program

All speakers and panels will be in the Cowles Auditorium. Lunch will be in the Mondale Commons. There will be a parallel Art and Resource Room in the Humphrey Forum (off the Mondale Commons), and a Self-Care Room in the Freeman Commons (second floor).

In the self-care room, a mental health counselor will be available for attendees who may be in need of care due to the difficult nature of this topic. Other resources will be available as well.

Speakers: