What is MMIW?

What is MMIW?

MMIW stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. It has been updated to MMIW2SG to include 2 Spirit peoples and Girls. This movement has come from a crisis Indigenous women and 2 Spirit folks are experiencing all across Canada and the US. The exact number of missing indigenous women in Canada is unknown, however: 

  • Indigenous women were about twice as likely than white women to experience violence
  • Native women face murder rates 10 times the national average
  • The murder rate for Native women is about 3 times more than that of white women (1)
  • Indigenous women 15 years and older were 3.5 times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women (2)

In just Ontario alone in the past 14 years, we have gathered the following names:

Abigail Ootoova, 54 Donna Tebbenham Melissa Miller, 37, her unborn baby boy, and two other community members
Adele Rose Mary Matinet, 22 Doreen Hardy, 18 Mercedes Stevens, 9,
Adrienne Amikons, 14 Edith McGinnis Quagon, 42 Minnie Sutherland, 40
Agnes Sutherland, 62 Elaine Vawn LaForme, 48 Mitzi MacDougall, 27
Alice Quoquat Netemegesic Elena Assam-Thunderbird, 17 Pamela Holopainen, 22
Alissa Martin-Travers, 5 Evaline (Evaleen) Cameron, 19 Patricia Carpenter, 14
Alloura Wells, 27 Gloria Jean Martha Abotossaway Paula Joy Martin, 31
Ameilia Sainnawap, 31 Heather Pelletier, 30 Petrina Lynn Whitecrow
Annie Pootoogook Helen Gillings, 19 Rebecca Jean King, 22
Ahshellla Huxtable, 36 Helen Louise Jacobs, 73 Regis Korchinski-Paquet, 29
Ashley Chantal Mckay, 25 Helyna Rivera, 25 Rena Fox, 38
Ashley Mandamin, 20 Hilda Agawa, 63 Renee Neganiwina, 26
Ashley Smith,18 Jane Jack, 22 Robyn Garlow, 30
Autumn Andy, 15 Jane Louise Sutherland, 20 Samantha Johnings, 19 months
Azraya Kokopenace Jeanine St Jean, 42 Sandra Kaye Johnson, 18
Barbara Kentner, 34 Jennifer Stewart, 36 Sarah Jane Wawia Bernard, 43
Barbara Loon, 34 Jocelyn McDonald, 16 Sarah Mason, 44
Barbara Shapwaykeesic Jordina Skunk, 29 Sarah Skunk, 43
Bella (Nancy Marie) LaBoucan McLean, 25 Josephine Sutherland, 38 Savanna Kakeyash, 23
Bernadette Leclair, 16 Josephine Thompson, 18 Shawna Taylor, 37
Betty Anne Cup, 72 Judie Thibault, 57 Shelley Lynne Joseph, 40
Beulah Peters, 23 Judy Ann Quill, 33 Shelley May Anderson, 51
Bonnie Atagoogak, 34 Karla Desrosiers, 45 Sonya Nadine Mae Cywink, 31
Carolyn Connolly, 54 Katelynne Sampson, 7 Sparky (Terri) Johnson, 52
Cecilia Payash, 48 Kayleigh Ivall, 14 Spring Phillips, 26
Cileana Taylor, 22 Kelly Morrisseau, 27 Susan Asslin, 19,
Charnelle Masakeyash, 26 Laura Pilon, 22 Susan Kuplu-Iqqittuq, 37
Charity Keesic, 19 Liana Mathewson, 44 Tanya Andy, 37
Chelsea Nagokee, 28, Leanne Lawson, 23 Talia Carey Tomaselli, 30
Cheyenne Fox, 20 Lisa Lynn Anstey, 21 Tashina Cheyenne Vaughn General, 21
Chloe Matthews, 11 Liz Bonnie Sakakeesic, 16 Terra Gardener, 26
Clarene Rose Panamick, 36 Lorraine Rivers, 18 Theresa Anne Yakimchuck, 23
Cynthia Lynette Jamieson, 44 Loretta Lavalley, 36 Theressa Wilson (Jamieson), 30
Danielle Marie Faye Big George Zaagaategabowik Lynn Childforever, 20 Therese Labbe, 47
Debbie Sloss-Clarke, 42 Mae Morton, 15 Tricia Paquette, 8
Deborah Toulouse, 41 Margaret Perrault (Bluebird), 32 Vanessa Tagoona, 29.
Delaine Copenace Margaret Yvonne Guylee Verna May Simard-Shabaquay, 50
Delta Makanak, 6 Mariah Wesley, 18 Verna Patricia Sturgeon, 33
Denise Katherine Bourdeau, 39 Mary Ann Davis, 25 Viola Melvin, 67
Diane Dobson, 36 Mary Papatsie, 39 Viola Isabella Panacheese, 42
Diane Marshall, 43 Mary Peters King Virginia May Nootchtai
Donna Kabatay, approx. late teens Maxine Susanne Peters, 34, Vivian Cada, 53

 

Please note this list is not comprehensive. Violence against indigenous women and 2 Spirit folks often goes unreported or undocumented.

 

Why are indigenous women missing in Canada?

 

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