On May 4, 2022, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation declaring May 5, 2022, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. This declaration was accompanied by a call for all Americans and levels of government to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities in their efforts to increase awareness of the issue of missing or murdered Indigenous persons. For the official proclamation, click here.
The proclamation acknowledges the historic lack of support and answers for families of missing or murdered Indigenous persons. President Biden reiterated the obligation of the federal government to investigate, resolve, and address the underlying causes of the cases and his administration’s commitment to justice for Indigenous communities.
President Biden stated “our nation’s failure to address this ongoing tragedy not only demeans the dignity of each Indigenous person who goes missing or is murdered — it undermines the humanity of us all. Today and every day, we must continue to stand up for Indigenous people, and we must never forget the thousands of unsolved cases that continue to cry out for justice and healing. As a nation, we must answer that call and work together to achieve the promise of America for all Americans.”