GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Hundreds of Native Americans and allies attended a rally in downtown Grand Rapids on Tuesday, gathering at Rosa Parks Circle before marching through the city to raise awareness about the ongoing epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The event, held on May 5 in recognition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Awareness Day, was hosted by three Potawatomi tribal nations: the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi.
The MMIP crisis is prevalent across the country, with Indigenous peoples being murdered at a rate ten times the national average. Homicide is one of the leading causes of death for Native women. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are 4,200 unsolved MMIP cases, the actual number is likely higher, Native advocates say.
Tuesday’s rally, hosted by Melissa Isaac (Chippewa), brought together tribal leaders, advocates, families, and community members—many dressed in red, a color that symbolizes both remembrance and a call for justice.
Emily Paksi, tribal liaison for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, read a formal proclamation on behalf of the governor, declaring May 5, 2026, as “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day” in the state.
“Identifying negative causes of the risk to American Indian Alaska Native people is key to addressing historic trauma and their systemic impact, collecting and reporting increasing government, meeting violence and helping American communities,” reads part of the proclamation that she presented to the three host tribes.
Speakers throughout the event emphasized that the crisis is not abstract—it is personal, ongoing, and deeply rooted in systemic failures. Tribal judge Melissa Pope underscored the importance of collaboration and education in confronting the violence that disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities.
“There is a need for partnerships to address Indigenous violence, the impact of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, and the importance of community support,” Pope said.
“You can learn, you can seek out the resources to help, to be able to identify, to help with educational campaigns, to look for the signs of a person being trafficked,” Pope added.
In an emotional speech, Isaac called on the crowd to support the Native youth in their communities.
“You deserve to laugh loudly,” Isaac said. “To walk freely. To be fully who you are—without that weight. As someone who has spent so much of my life working with young people, I’ve seen how powerful it is when youth know they are supported. When they know someone is paying attention.
When they know they matter. And I’ve also seen what happens when that’s missing. That’s why this matters so much. And you are not just the future. You are part of this right now. Your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your visibility matters. And it is our responsibility—as a community—to stand with you. To protect you. To make sure you inherit something different.”
Participants marched with signs bearing the names and faces of missing and murdered loved ones—many cases still unresolved, many families still waiting for answers. The gathering in Grand Rapids was one of dozens of events held across Indian Country and urban Native communities to mark the national day of awareness.
While proclamations and public gatherings signal growing recognition, advocates say far more work remains. Jurisdictional gaps, underreporting, and limited resources continue to hinder justice for victims and their families.
For those who gathered on Tuesday, the message was clear: awareness must lead to action. Until then, the marches will continue—and so will the calls for justice.
