American Indians Go Graphic

The ongoing injustice of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW/MMIP) remains one of the most urgent issues facing Indigenous communities today. The movement confronts the crisis of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit (Indigenous queer), and relatives who disappear or are murdered at alarming rates. In the U.S., murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women with over 5,700 reported missing in 2016—but only 116 logged in Department of Justice records. In Montana, Indigenous people are 6.7 percent of the population but 26 percent of missing cases. In Canada, Indigenous women are 4 percent of the population, but 16 percent of women murdered from 1980–2012. The movement demands justice, policy change, and the return of stolen relatives—centering Indigenous-led responses rooted in care and sovereignty. The illustration shown here is by Jonathan R. Thunder (Red Lake Band of Ojibwe citizen). 

LaPensée, Elizabeth (non-Native), Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva descendant), and Patty Stonefish (Lakota heritage). Deer Woman: An Anthology. Native Realities, 2017. Lilly Library, Duke University. Label written by Alexa Jimenez.

The half-deer, half-woman creature stands against the brick wall, unafraid and unwavering. Deer Woman emerges from American Indian oral traditions as a powerful spirit being who stands against violence toward women. This anthology brings together American Indian artists and writers who reimagine her story, addressing the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Through striking visuals and narratives, the collection offers cautionary tales and empowering messages of resistance. The book includes many creators, shown here are illustrations by Kimberly Robertson (Mvskoke citizen), and Jackie Fawn (Yurok/Washoe citizen/Filipina).