Symposium, 5K run/walk aim to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous peoples

• What: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium
• When: Thursday, May 2, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Where: 1670 E. Drachman St., Tucson, and livestream on Zoom
• Register: https://tinyurl.com/MMIP24Sym
   
• What: Southern Arizona Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness 5K Run/Walk
• When: Sunday, May 5, 5:30 a.m.
• Where: Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, Ramada 6
• Register: https://tinyurl.com/MMIP24

The IdigiWellbeing Program at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health will host two events this week in recognition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month. Both events are free and open to the public.

The third annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium will be held Thursday, May 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Health Sciences Innovation Building in Tucson. The symposium will feature international, national, state and local leaders with expertise in MMIP issues. Registration is required and can be completed online.

The second event is the fourth annual Southern Arizona Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness 5K Run/Walk, which will take place Sunday, May 5, at 5:30 a.m. at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, Ramada 6. The run/walk will feature a keynote presentation as well as performances and activities related to healing.

According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Native American and Alaska Native rates of murder, rape and violent crime are all higher than national averages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native females experienced the second highest rate of homicide in 2020 and non-Hispanic AI/AN males had the second highest rate of homicide compared with males in all other racial and ethnic groups. Also, more than 2 in 5 non-Hispanic AI/AN women reported being raped in their lifetime.

The IndigiWellbeing program, launched by Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, organizes culturally grounded programming for Native and Indigenous students, staff, faculty and community members to build connection and awareness among participants as a path to health and wellness.