Honoring Our Women: A Call to Awareness, Protection, and Love
May is a month of remembrance and reflection. It brings the warmth of spring, the celebration of motherhood, and the solemn observance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. For Native communities, these moments are deeply intertwined—because behind every missing or murdered loved one is a family left with unanswered questions and a community in mourning.
Indigenous communities experience violence at significantly higher rates than the national average. While much-needed attention has been given to our women and girls, we must also acknowledge that our men and boys are being taken from us at alarming rates. A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice found that 82% of American Indian and Alaska Native men have experienced violence in their lifetime. My own family has experienced this kind of loss, and we carry that grief with us every day. This is not just a statistic—it is a reality that touches too many of our homes.
At PSC, we serve Tribal Nations with a commitment rooted in protection, respect, and advocacy. Every day, we remember those who have gone missing and those whose lives have been stolen. We honor their memory by continuing to educate, advocate, and push for change—not just in policy, but in practice and awareness. As the original caretakers of this land, our women hold a sacred place. They are the first women of this land, carrying deep knowledge, spiritual strength, and cultural wisdom that is unique to our people. They are sacred, and they must be protected.
We hold space for the mothers who grieve, the families who search, and the communities who continue to hope. We know that healing begins with truth, and safety begins with action.
This May, as we honor the strength and love of our mothers, we also ask you to:
- Be aware. Learn the warning signs, recognize patterns, and know what to do if someone goes missing.
- Be informed. Understand your local and Tribal resources, law enforcement protocols, and the critical importance of early intervention.
- Protect each other. Stay connected, support one another, and speak out. Silence is not safety.
We are stronger when we move together. We are safer when we care for one another. And while we are forever changed by the ones we’ve lost, we remain committed to honoring them through awareness, advocacy, and action.
Let us honor them not only with remembrance, but with purpose.
Let us continue the work of protecting our communities—because their safety is our duty, their memory is our charge, and their future depends on what we do today.
Michele Justice, President
Personnel Security Consultants, Inc.
