Not Our Native Daughters (NOND) is a Native-led, survivor-led organization dedicated to addressing the Missing, Murdered, and Exploited Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis. Our mission is to empower Indigenous communities by advocating for justice, raising awareness, and providing support to families affected by violence. We work alongside Native youth through initiatives like our Indigenous Youth Voices program, fostering leadership, education, and cultural preservation. In addition to our advocacy efforts, we provide technical assistance training and presentations on a broad range of Indigenous issues, from MMIP to human trafficking, environmental justice, and more. Through policy reform, community engagement, and healing practices, we are committed to creating a future where Indigenous women and youth are safe, supported, and empowered to lead the fight for justice, equity, and healing.
Mission
To end the trafficking, exploitation, and murder of Indigenous Persons through education, policy change, coalition-building, and strengthening indigenous capacities to address the endemic violence.
Our Vision
Our vision is to promote Indigenous Justice principles in the conduct of advocacy, education, equality, policy and to live in a world where indigenous women and girls are NOT the most raped, sexually assaulted, murdered and suffer violence than any other race in the world.
MMIWR Frequently Asked Questions
(Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives)
By Not Our Native Daughters
1. What does MMIWR mean?
MMIWR stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.
This includes Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit people, men, boys, LGBTQ relatives, and all Indigenous people who are missing, murdered, trafficked, or otherwise harmed.
The “R” is intentional — violence affects entire Indigenous families and communities, not only women.
2. Why is this crisis happening?
The MMIWR crisis is rooted in colonization, including:
Historical removal from homelands
Forced assimilation and boarding schools
Sexual violence used as a weapon of genocide
Jurisdictional confusion between tribal, state, and federal systems
Chronic underfunding of tribal law enforcement
Systemic racism that devalues Indigenous lives
Lack of data and misclassification of Native victims
Indigenous women and girls experience some of the highest rates of violence in the United States, yet cases often go uninvestigated or under-investigated.
3. Why are so many cases unreported or misclassified?
Because:
Police often misidentify Native victims as “white,” “Hispanic,” or “unknown.”
Many reservations lack adequate law enforcement staffing.
State and federal agencies frequently refuse or delay jurisdiction.
Families are discouraged from filing reports or told “nothing can be done.”
Media rarely covers Native victims, reducing public pressure for justice.
Data systems are outdated or incompatible between jurisdictions.
There is no centralized national database for missing Indigenous people.
6. Why don’t families get justice?
Families struggle because:
Agencies point fingers over jurisdiction
Cases are not taken seriously until public pressure is applied
Evidence is lost, ignored, or mishandled
Families are told to “wait” for federal approval
Cases lack proper communication or transparency
Victims’ histories are used against them (“high-risk lifestyle”)
There is bias against Indigenous families requesting updates
This creates profound trauma and long-term harm for families seeking answers.
7. What can communities do to help?
Communities can:
Share posts from Native-led organizations
Amplify missing persons flyers
Learn about grooming, trafficking, and safety planning
Support Native-led nonprofits through donations
Host awareness events and trainings
Demand better policies and cross-jurisdictional agreements
Pressure local and state officials to invest in Indigenous safety
Awareness saves lives — but action brings justice.
10. What is one thing everyone should understand about MMIWR?
Indigenous people were never meant to survive colonization — and yet here we are, carrying forward our ancestors’ prayers.
But survival is not enough. Our people deserve safety, justice, healing, and the chance to live full lives without the shadow of violence.
MMIWR is not new.
Long before the acronym existed, Indigenous women and children were exploited, kidnapped, traded, and disappeared under the violence of colonization. This crisis is generations old — society is only now beginning to speak its name.
The crisis continues today because systems built without us still fail us:
Chronic underfunding of Native-led and survivor-led response organizations
Jurisdictional gaps that delay investigations or leave families without answers
Historical and generational trauma compounding every injustice
Extreme poverty, resource scarcity, and isolation in rural, tribal, and urban Native communities
Racism and indifference in institutions responsible for justice
Human trafficking networks that target Native women and youth
A continued colonial worldview that devalues Indigenous life
And critically — tribal communities face legal barriers that put our women and children at risk:
Tribal nations cannot arrest or prosecute non-Native offenders unless granted authority under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act).
This means non-Native perpetrators can commit crimes on tribal land and walk away, unless the tribe has obtained special jurisdiction.
VAWA is essential — it restores a fraction of our sovereign right to protect our own people, and tribes who have implemented VAWA jurisdiction report real, immediate increases in safety and accountability.
These structural failures shape the crisis:
Many MMIWR cases go uninvestigated or ignored
Families are forced to become their own advocates
Jurisdictional confusion delays justice
Systemic poverty and lack of transportation limit access to safety
Human traffickers exploit the vulnerability created by these gaps
4. Why don’t law enforcement respond quickly on reservations?
Many tribal communities have:
Only 1–3 officers covering an area the size of a small state.
No 24/7 dispatch or crisis response team.
Delays caused by which agency has authority (tribal, BIA, county, or federal).
Limited funding compared to non-Native police departments.
Long distances, lack of backup, and understaffed departments.
This leads to unanswered 911 calls, delayed investigations, and cases that go cold before they even start.
5. How is human trafficking connected to MMIWR?
Human trafficking is one of the most underreported parts of the MMIWR crisis.
Native women and youth are targeted because traffickers know:
Jurisdictional gaps slow down investigations
Many Native communities suffer from underfunding & resource shortages
Historical trauma creates vulnerabilities traffickers exploit
Racism dehumanizes Indigenous people in the eyes of buyers
Trafficking in Indian Country is overwhelmingly domestic — meaning most victims are Native youth taken within the United States, often by people they know or were groomed by online.
8. What does Not Our Native Daughters do?
Not Our Native Daughters (NOND):
Provides family crisis support
Educates communities on MMIWR, trafficking, grooming, and DV
Offers culturally informed trainings for agencies, schools, and communities
Works with youth through our Indigenous Youth Voices (IYV) program
Creates national awareness campaigns
Advocates for legislative change
Supports survivors with trauma-informed resources
Builds partnerships across tribal, state, and federal systems
We are a Native women–led, survivor-led grassroots organization.
9. How can I support the work?
You can:
Donate (Native-led orgs are the least funded in the U.S.)
Attend our webinars, trainings, and community events
Share our posts and resources
Invite NOND to train your school, organization, or community
Become a recurring monthly supporter
Stay informed and help correct harmful myths about Indigenous people
Donate via the link in our Instagram bio or visit:
www.notournativedaughters.org
This is why Native-led and survivor-led organizations are essential and why only a small number of us carry this national work:
We are the ones who:
advocate when systems dismiss Native families
bridge tribal, city, county, state, and federal gaps
understand coercion, grooming, trafficking indicators, and cultural context
stand beside families in crisis
fight to push cases forward
protect the next generation with prevention, education, and cultural healing
Our lived experience, cultural knowledge, and community ties save lives.
MMIWR is not just a crisis — it is a call to action.
A call to believe us.
A call to invest in us.
A call to restore tribal sovereignty and full jurisdiction over our own land.
A call to protect Native women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse relatives.
A call to dismantle the conditions created by colonization.
A call to stand with the families who refuse to give up.
Because our people deserve more than survival.
We deserve justice.
We deserve protection.
We deserve to be heard.
We deserve to live.
Our daughters, nieces, granddaughters — and future generations — deserve a world where their safety is not negotiable and their lives are not lost to silence.
Justice for Our Indigenous People: Empowering Native Communities
Introduction
Join us in supporting a critical cause that aims to address the urgent issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) within Indigenous People and Native American communities (tribal & urban).
We are launching the "Justice for Our Indigenous People'' campaign, led by NOND; a native-led organization dedicated to advocating for justice, raising awareness, and supporting affected families. NOND has been dedicated to the work of protection of Indigenous Women & Children since 2010. Together, we can make a profound difference and create positive change for indigenous people & our communities.
Campaign Overview
The law enforcement crisis surrounding MMIP has plagued Native American communities for far too long. Native women and girls experience disproportionately high rates of violence and disappearances, often met with inadequate investigation and a lack of resources. The "Justice for Our Indigenous People" campaign aims to address this crisis through five key pillars:
1. Community Listening Sessions: Increasing the
Indigenous Voice.
By bringing together diverse perspectives and voices, these meetings can help identify key priorities and strategies for addressing this complex problem. One of the topics we will commit to is creating safe and inclusive spaces for community members to share their experiences and ideas, the role of traditional knowledge and cultural practices in addressing MMIW, and the need for ongoing collaboration and communication among community members, service providers, and law enforcement agencies. With careful research, thoughtful reflection, and community data intel, we can create a structure that impacts lives and community.
Some key priorities and strategies identified in community listening and engagement meetings when it comes to addressing MMIW include increasing awareness and education about the issue, improving coordination among law enforcement agencies, enhancing victim services and support, and strengthening prevention efforts. Other important priorities may include addressing systemic issues related to colonization, racism, and gender-based violence, empowering Indigenous communities to lead their own responses, and promoting healing and wellness for those impacted by MMIW. These priorities and strategies may vary depending on the specific needs and experiences of different communities, but it is critical to center the voices and perspectives of those most affected by this issue in any efforts to address it.
Improving law enforcement engagement across various entities is an important aspect of addressing the issue of MMIW. This can involve increasing communication and collaboration among law enforcement agencies at different levels, including local, state, tribal and federal. Targeted facilitated training and resources to law enforcement officers to ensure they are better equipped to recognize and respond to cases of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Establishing community-based policing programs that involve Indigenous communities can also help build trust and improve engagement between law enforcement and affected communities.
4. Advocacy and Policy Reform: Closing The Gaps.
We will work closely with tribal leaders, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to advocate for systemic changes that improve the response to cases of missing and murdered indigenous persons. Our goal is to ensure that native communities have access to culturally sensitive and effective support systems, stronger collaboration between agencies, and comprehensive data collection.
2. Improving Law Enforcement Engagement: increasing communication across various law enforcement agencies at different levels.
Improving coordination among law enforcement agencies can involve several steps, such as creating communication protocols and sharing resources and expertise across jurisdictions. It may also involve training and education for law enforcement personnel on issues related to MMIW, including cultural competency and trauma-informed approaches. In addition, establishing partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations can help facilitate cooperation and collaboration between law enforcement and those most impacted by this issue. Overall, a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach is essential to effectively address MMIW and improve the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and girls.
3. Awareness and Education: Facilitate Technical Assistance Training.
We will strive to increase public awareness about the issue of MMIP within Native American communities & on a national & global level through targeted awareness campaigns, public forums, facilitate technical assistance training, and educational initiatives. Disseminating MMIWG research and statistics through social media and providing technical assistance. By shedding light on this crisis, we can build empathy, understanding, and support for MMIWG and those families who are affected by this crisis.
5. Restorative Justice Circle: Community Empowerment.
NOND will foster community resilience and empowerment through initiatives that promote healing, cultural preservation, and self-advocacy. By uplifting native voices, working with those who are employed within tribal programs and promoting indigenous leadership, we aim to create sustainable change within these communities and empower future generations.
Restorative justice circle meetings are a process of conflict resolution that involve bringing together the parties involved in a harm or conflict to discuss the impact of the harm and work towards repairing the harm and restoring relationships. The benefits of restorative justice circle meetings include:
1. Increased Communication: Restorative justice circle meetings provide a safe space for individuals to communicate and express themselves. This increased communication can help to build trust, empathy, and understanding between the parties involved.
2. Empowerment: Restorative justice circle meetings involve all parties in the decision-making process, allowing them to take ownership of their actions and the outcomes of the process. This can lead to a greater sense of empowerment and responsibility.
3. Healing: Restorative justice circle meetings focus on repairing harm and restoring relationships, rather than punishing or assigning blame. This approach can lead to healing for all involved parties and can help to prevent future harm.
4. Accountability: Restorative justice circle meetings provide an opportunity for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and make amends. This can lead to a greater sense of accountability and a decreased likelihood of future harm.
5. Community Building: Restorative justice circle meetings can help to build stronger, more connected communities by fostering understanding, empathy, and cooperation among community members.
1. Donate: Your financial contributions will directly support the implementation of our campaign's initiatives. Every dollar makes a difference in providing resources, support, and advocacy for missing and murdered indigenous persons and their families.
2. Spread Awareness: Share our campaign on social media platforms, engage with our content, and encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to join the cause. By amplifying our message, we can reach a wider audience and ignite conversations about the urgent need for change.
3. Volunteer: If you are passionate about social justice and indigenous rights, consider volunteering your time and skills to support our campaign. Whether it's organizing events, offering legal expertise, or providing emotional support to affected families, your involvement will be invaluable.
4. Collaborate: If you represent an organization or business committed to social impact, we welcome collaborative efforts. Together, we can pool resources, expertise, and networks to maximize the reach and impact of our campaign.
5. Together, let's stand in solidarity with Native American communities, demand justice for our missing sisters, and work towards a future where every life is valued and protected. Join the "Justice for Our Missing Sisters" campaign today!
Provide technical training in the following areas:
Native American Issues: Exploring Historical Legacies and Present Challenges through a Lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Voices Unheard: Understanding and Addressing MMIW - A Training for Advocates.
Shining a Light: Introduction to MMIW Awareness and Advocacy Training.
Protecting Our Future: Training on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking Awareness and Prevention.
Unveiling the Shadows: Addressing Human Trafficking in Hotels, Casinos.
Empowering Medical Professionals :A Vital Training for Medical Practitioners in Child Sex Trafficking.
Unveiling Lifelong Effects: A Systemic Approach to Childhood Trauma and Domestic Violence.
Engaging with Tribal Communities: Effective Advocacy and Allyship.
Understanding Trauma Across Generations: From Historical Trauma to Present-Day Challenges.
Environmental Justice and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Bridging Indigenous Wisdom with Conservation.
Empowering Native Youth: Outdoor Recreation and Knowledge Sharing with Indigenous Elders.
Data & Research
Due to lack of data and research of Missing, Murdered, Indigenous Women & Girls, the advancement of data intel is required in order to educate, prevent and stop the victimization of Indigenous persons.
NOND continues to advance the efforts of data and research of Indigenous persons.
Make a Donation
We will continue to advocate and amplify the voices of the families of Missing, & Murdered Indigenous Person’s. May we continue to honor all victims by continuing to stand for them. Fight with us!
Not Our Native Daughters is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).