2026 MMIP Awareness Day Event at the State Capitol

Emma Hughes

Gila River Indian News

PHOENIX, Ariz. —In honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Day, a local community-led event was held at the State Capitol’s Wesley Bolin Plaza on May 5. Several people and advocates from tribal communities came together for the event that featured guest speakers, cultural performances, and informational booths.

Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Miss Gila River Eliana Rhodes, and Jr. Miss Gila River Aubrey Gaitan were among those representing the Gila River Indian Community. ‘Safety is Sacred: Strength in Community’ was this year’s theme for the event and Dr. Robert Ornelas (Yaqui) served as the master of ceremony.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see our community come together through hard times,” said Rhodes. “This is a very hard topic; it’s a beautiful thing that we’re coming together as an Indigenous community and letting each other know that we’re not alone and that we’re all here for one another.”

Gaitan also echoed the importance of solidarity. “Coming together, seeing everybody join hands and making our voices louder is so beautiful,” Gaitan said. “Although many of our people have gone missing, it’s beautiful to see that all of us can come out here and show our voices, be loud for them.”

Arizona’s Deputy Director of Tribal Affairs Angela Willeford shared a proclamation on behalf of Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs designating May 5 as MMIP Awareness Day.

“We honor the lives lost and the families seeking answers. For too long, this crisis has been met with silence. We stand with Tribal nations to deliver justice, strengthen safety, and ensure no one is forgotten,” said Hobbs in a statement.

“We have to do better,” said Gov. Lewis. “Arizona ranks second with MMIP situations and numbers, across Indian Country, across the United States and that’s just with the information that we have; we don’t know for sure.”

The event concluded with a march around the plaza, serving as a powerful reminder of unity and advocacy.