Walking for Justice: UAA Community Honors MMIP on Red Dress Day with Healing, Storytelling, and Solidarity
In recognition of Red Dress Day and the ongoing MMIP crisis, we spoke with organizers from the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Walk for MMIP to learn more about the event, its purpose, and the deeper meaning behind it. In the following Q&A, they share reflections on community healing, the importance of visibility, and how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can stand in solidarity in the fight for justice.
UAA hosted a Walk for MMIP on May 1 as part of Red Dress Day awareness. Can you tell us more about the event, its purpose, and what you hope participants will take away from being part of it?
We came together as a community to attempt to heal and draw awareness to MMIP. Michael Livingston, an avid MMIP activist, was our speaker. He shared a poignant story about his experience as a police officer and the history of Benny Benson, the true Alaskan flag creator. Antonia Commack, an MMIP activist, brought her posters showing many Alaskan MMIPs. The purpose of the walk was to be seen – show our community we are here and need the recognition and support of the entire community to create the systemic change needed to battle this crisis. Many families brought their posters of family members. We also hosted 2 dance groups, Ingrimiut Yurartet—People of the Mountains and Anchichx kwaan. The dancing helps us call our ancestors to be with us and helps those hurting from this crisis some healing.
Why is it important for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to recognize and participate in Red Dress Day and events like the Walk for MMIP?
Because MMIP is not just an Indigenous crisis, it’s a community crisis – the entire community needs to be involved for there to be no more stolen Indigenous People.
How does misclassification or underreporting of MMIP cases affect justice and healing efforts for families and communities?
Misclassifications and underreporting are ways that law enforcement and media systems make Indigenous People invisible. If a murder is misclassified as a suicide, that family will never be able to seek justice. That family won’t be able to heal from that injustice. This leads to generational trauma that gets handed down to our children/future ancestors and their children. These waves of pain keep rippling into tidal waves for all of our communities.
Can you speak to the role of education, advocacy, and institutions like UAA in supporting Indigenous-led efforts to address MMIP?
It’s vital that UAA honors and acknowledges the Alaska Native it resides on. One way to do that at UAA is that faculty and staff use all of our abilities, whether educational, advocacy, or institutional, to elevate Indigenous-led efforts.
What does solidarity look like to you in the fight for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people?
It means showing up for community events, spreading the word about injustices, and demanding lawmakers and our state and federal representatives fight for visibility and justice. Also elevate our community members, like Michael Livingston and Antonia Commack who do this hard work day in and day out because this work is very personal. Stand by them whenever they can because they need our support when they need rest and healing.
For those who may be newly learning about MMIP/MMIWG2S, what’s one thing you hope they take away from participating in events like this?
They can help support this crisis by learning more information, hearing the stories, and then elevating those stories.