Colorado Springs march for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Thursday, local organizations led a march to acknowledge the Indigenous People who have gone missing and have been killed across the United States.

According to the Haseya Advocate Program, the rally began at Acacia Park where the group performed traditional dances and read the city's proclamation on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day to help families who have been impacted by violence.

Attendees wore wear red, ribbon skirts, and some brought hand drums.

From there, the group will stop briefly at City Hall and then march to the Take Back the Power mural.

According to the Haseya Advocate Program:

• More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have experienced violence in their lifetime
• More than half of AI/AN women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime
• More than half of AI/AN women have experienced physical violence by intimate partners in their lifetime
• AI/AN are 1.7 times more likely than white women to have experienced violence in the past year

"Every single native person I know has been impacted by this crisis, when we come together in that way we are supported, we know that we are seen, heard, and felt by each other and that if nothing else helps us organize the grassroots response which really has been the only effective response here in Colorado," said Monycka Snowbirrd, the director of the Haseya Advocate Program.

Activists hope SB22-150, Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives, will become law. If passed, SB22-150 will create a new state office to help coordinate missing person investigations.

However, Governor Jared Polis has expressed opposition, leading some to feel unsupported.

"We've great sponsors in the senate and now it is in the house but the governor has repeatedly threatened that he is going to veto this bill and we can't depend on the system that help create this problem to be part of the solution and so we are having to do it essentially on our own," said Snowbirrd.

In 2021, ABC News reported roughly 1,500 AI/An missing persons had been recorded across the U.S. However, activists believe that number is much higher.

Wednesday, the White House issued a proclamation making May 5, 2022, Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.

For generations, Indigenous persons, including American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, have been forced to mourn a missing or murdered loved one without the answers and support they deserve.  On Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we remember these victims and their families, and commit to working with Tribal Nations and Native communities to achieve justice and healing.

President Joe Biden

The proclamation goes on to say the Federal Government "has an obligation to ensure that cases of missing or murdered persons are met with swift and effective action."

Another year -- and another opportunity to fight for change.

Monycka Snowbirrd, the director of the Haseya Advocate Program, which helps native survivors of domestic violence says they need change now.

"Every single native person I know has been impacted by this crisis, when we come together in that way we are supported, we know that we are seen, heard and felt by each other and that if nothing else helps us organize the grassroots response which really has been the only effective response here in Colorado," said Snowbirrd.

Activists are hoping this is the year House Bill 150 can become law.

The bill creates a new state office to help coordinate missing persons investigations.

But -- the governor has expressed opposition -- leaving advocated feeling un-supported.

"We've great sponsors in the senate and now it is in the house but the governor has repeatedly threaten that he is going to veto this bill and we can't depend on the system that help create this problem to be part of the solution and so we are having to do it essentially on our own," added Snowbirrd.

While numbers are often under-reported -- it's believed over 9,000 indigenous women are currently missing or have been murdered over the last 10 years.

"When you think about those numbers it is just overwhelming, at what point will this end, at what point do we need to stop making new signs," added Snowbirrd.

There are at least 53 missing murdered indigenous women in Colorado right now.

The bill still needs to pass the house before it heads to the governor's desk.

Watch the community march held in Colorado Springs in 2021 below: