About a hundred people, most dressed in red, gathered Monday in the Arts and Crafts Building in the Del Norte Fairgrounds to commemorate the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP). The event, which included sign-making stations, face-painting, and testimonials by Native community members, was organized by the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation.
As attendees trickled in, many with children, Adrian Lopez paused in front of the large, flashing informational video projected on the wall behind him. Lopez works in the Victims Services Division of the Tolowa Community and Family Department as a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist. “We like spreading awareness,” he said. “Especially for this specific cause because the rates of missing and murdered indigenous people are higher than the national average for any other race or ethnicity. It’s up to ten times more likely being missing or murdered as an indigenous individual.”
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