Around 100 people gathered in downtown Sioux City Thursday afternoon to bring awareness to the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.
The event was organized in part by the Great Plains Action Society, a group that fights for social justice and rebuilds Indigenous communities.
SunRose IronShell is part of the movement.
“It’s all about being seen. Because the whole system is designed to leave Indigenous People in the past, so in your mind, there’s a stereotype that Native American people do not exist.”
“Because society doesn’t see us, we have been hunted for the past 500 years.”
Local law enforcement leaders also joined the event, including Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller. He wants the group to know they are listening and there is hope.
“I think we can be an example to other communities across the country because of our collaboration and mutual respect.”
Chief Mueller and leaders in the Native American Community say both sides need to work together as a team and not be afraid to assist in investigations.
“We all have the same goals. We want to find those people who are missing and bring justice who have lost loved ones like Terri McCauley.”
Terri McCauley was murdered in 1983. So far, no arrests have been made in the case.
Several who attended held signs with her image, including her son Nathaniel McCauley, who was only a toddler at the time of his mother’s killing.
“I didn’t think we would ever see this kind of support. I love it for my family and everyone here.”
The National Institute of Justice reports four out of five Native women will have experienced violence during their lifetime.