WHEREAS, the Cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Dilworth join with the efforts of our neighbors in Canada to spur awareness in the region for murdered and missing Indigenous women; and
WHEREAS, more than 2,000 Native women and girls have been reported missing or have been murdered in Canada in the last 30 years; and while there is not a comprehensive estimate of Indigenous women who are missing and murdered in the United States, many factors contribute to this epidemic such fear, stigma, legal barriers, racism, sexism, and the devastating levels of violence in the US; and
WHEREAS, according to the US Department of Justice, more than half of all Native American women have been raped, beaten or stalked by an intimate partner and more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, for more than 30 years there have been marches, events and awareness raising efforts throughout Canada on Valentine’s Day, such as the Women’s Memorial March, the Stolen Sisters Movement, Sisters in Spirit, Families of Sisters in Spirit and the Walking With Our Sisters exhibit; and
WHEREAS, The Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Awareness Day seeks to build upon the support of these efforts in Canada by increasing awareness in the United States of the Indigenous women and girls who have not had the proper attention or justice; and
WHEREAS, the Cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth join those fighting for this cause to promote a greater awareness of this disparity in Native communities and call for more resources and action to address the colonial gender based violence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, Dr. Timothy J. Mahoney, Mayor of Fargo; Bernie Dardis, Mayor of West Fargo; Shelly Carlson, Mayor of Moorhead; and Chad Olson, Mayor of Dilworth, do hereby proclaim February 14, 2023, to be
THE MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMEN AWARENESS DAY
in The Cities of Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead and Dilworth, Minnesota, and call upon the citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the cities of Moorhead and Dilworth, State of Minnesota and Fargo and West Fargo, State of North Dakota to be affixed to this proclamation.