'We need allies': More than 500 walk through Phoenix to remember missing Indigenous people

Cante Zephier stood before a crowd of walkers, who were all donning red shirts, and sang the song you sing to Anpo Wicapi, the protector of women, in the morning before the group began their one-mile walk in awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

The red shirts were to commemorate the event, which took place at the Phoenix Indian Center Saturday, and was planned by the Phoenix Indian Center youth council.

“Anpo Wicapi is the protector of women in Lakota, Dakota, Nakota culture, otherwise known as Sioux,” said Zaphier, who is Yankton Sioux and Navajo. “I decided to sing that song because of the importance to women. I wanted to sing this song in remembrance of them and ask that Anpo Wicapi watch all those who are currently missing. All those whose cases are still being investigated.”

May 5 is recognized nationally as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The center's 2023 Walking For Our Relatives Walk-A-Thon honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous People attracted over 500 walkers, the largest group the event has had since its inception three years ago. (The first year was virtual due to the pandemic.)

Levi Long, communication specialist for the Phoenix Indian Center, said the event was important for the youth group to organize.

“As young leaders in the community they are very aware of the issues, and a lot of them have been touched by that issue,” said Long.

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Everyone walked for someone

Young adults and youth from different parts of the state traveled to Phoenix specifically for the event. Shavaughn Titla, 21, Miss Cibecue Apache Queen's first attendant, and Shatalya Titla, 9, Miss White Mountain Apache princess, drove in together from Alchesay, Arizona, that morning.

"We wanted the people who were murdered and are missing from our tribe to be recognized also," said Shavaughn, who said they started out at 6 a.m. and were able to get to the event just in time.

At the end of the walk, Sumaya C. Quitutua, 17, a member of the youth council, read aloud an original poem that reflected on the missing individuals. A member of the Acoma Pueblo, Quitutua said the youth council put this event on in order to bring awareness to the issue and to bring a voice and represent those who are in need of representation.

When organizing the event, she said the Phoenix Indian Center was supportive of what the youth envisioned. The message may be to bring awareness to those missing, but Quitutua said they all walked for someone that day.

“Generational trauma is the main source of it, we grow up knowing what MMIP, MMIW, MMIM stands for,” said Quitutua. “This is in our household. A lot of us have relatives who are affected by it. We hurt on the reservation because we don't get the same representation or the same funding or anything people get in the city. But when we understand what kind of change and difference we can create, we try our best to do anything and everything.”

In March, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. The task force is a collaboration between state, federal and tribal agencies and will consult with tribal governments on the issues and work with law enforcement and tribal governments to track and collect data on violence against Indigenous people, including data on missing and murdered Indigenous people, among other things.

Number of missing people growing

When it comes to the number of those missing and murdered within the state, Arizona State University data shows the killing of Indigenous women and girls has been increasing over the past 40 years. At least 160 Indigenous females were known to police to be murdered between 1976 and 2018 in Arizona.

In April, the Navajo Police Department updated the Navajo Nation missing persons poster. Approximately 82 people are missing in the Navajo Nation, including 24 women and 58 men dating back to the 1970s.

Missing family members have been a constant concern, especially in tribal communities as predatory rehab centers continue to operate in Phoenix, which is where many missing individuals end up. Flyers shared on social media of missing family members are posted daily, listing where people were last seen, what they were wearing, who they were with and whether the family believes the missing could be at one of the rehab centers.

“Any time our people are taken without their consent or knowledge that’s a problem for our community,” said Long. “Anyone who goes missing without communication to family or friends, that adds to the larger problem and it's not OK. Having events like this helps us take back that power and helps empower our community to bring awareness to help each other survive.”

Mikki Hovel's shirt had the names of missing and murdered Navajo and Pueblo individuals. One name was that of Zachariah Juwaun Shorty. Hovel said Shorty's mom sent her this shirt to wear for the walk. Shorty was 23 when he went missing in Farmington, New Mexico. He was found four days later in Nenahnezad, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, where he was shot multiple times and left in an isolated field.

"I think this needs to be told by our people, we also need allies," said Hovel on the significance of the one-mile walk. "Why can't we get recognition not just on the reservation, but we have missing and murdered here in Phoenix, but they don't get that much attention."

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Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix event seeks attention for missing, murdered Indigenous people