The feminist organization and anti-racist learning group LB Grrrl Collective hosted an event on November 17 to honor murdered, missing, Indigenous women (#MMIW), as part of Native American Heritage Month in November.
The featured speaker at the event was Cheyenne Phoenix, a Native activist who was involved in the protests at Standing Rock. Her talk centered around the alarming rates of women who go missing or are found murdered on Native-owned land. She also spoke of forms of trauma that also affect many Native people.
The workshop began with a land acknowledgement to the Tongva and Kietzh people, and an intentional dialogue to delve into a deeper understanding of class, race and gender.
According to the National Institute for Justice, some 84% of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetimes. The discussion called for sharing stories of people who go missing on social media and in community dialogue.
Because many of the attacks occur on lands held by Native people, assaults, kidnappings and murders of Native women are often even harder to prosecute. Native women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than other ethnicities. According to the Center for Disease Control, homicide is the third leading cause of death for Native women.
Phoenix also mentioned other issues in the Native communities that create conflict with non-Native society. She referenced sports mascots as an example of how to this day Native culture is tokenized for entertainment. While some sports teams have begun abandoning the practice, there remain dozens of major league and college teams that continue to use Native mascots and imagery.
While it is becoming more common for ceremonies to begin with acknowledging the names of the tribe which once lived on the land in left-wing and environmental groups, Cheyenne also spoke directly about giving land back to Native communities. While it may be implied that she was referring to the nation, she also encouraged people to consider leaving land to indigenous people in their wills should they be given land.
Native poverty was also discussed, and it was mentioned to keep in mind that the root of Native poverty came from the removal and continued occupation of Native lands, referred to as “the American genocide.”
One way people give back to Native communities is by donating directly to Native organizations.
Phoenix mentioned ways to help, including local efforts like the 100 Acts of Kindness (Wathin’ethe), which is an Indigenous woman-led organization focused on helping elders during the pandemic. She also mentioned joining the political battle to preserve the Los Cerritos wetlands, by preventing more oil drilling and fracking-like techniques.
There is also an effort underway to protect an area known as Puvugna, which according to various California native peoples, is the space where creation began. The area is under the management of CSULB where the institution has faced scrutiny by Native activists for having construction soil recently dumped on it.
Phoenix described a future where society can exist according to a Dine principle, Hózhó, a word which describes a world of balance, beauty, harmony and peace.
Speaker Iyapo Ngina called for white people in particular to consider what ways they can help remove barriers in society that perpetuate inequality. She called for “rebuking so-called privileges” or using privileges to stand in front of police in cases where it appears the police are behaving aggressively.
Ngina mentioned fasting for Thanksgiving as a form of consideration for Native people. She said fasting can be a form of demonstrating genuine solidarity.
“How far are you willing to go for someone else?” she said when describing what solidarity means.
Ngina mentioned how those who are aware of the issues have a challenge considering whether or not to celebrate Thanksgiving. She said she believes that solidarity means taking up the struggle alongside those who are experiencing oppression.
Ngina asked the group to self-reflect on what they are willing to do for others and what personal sacrifices they are willing to make to help build a better world.
“This is not an isolated incident. We have to see the world as a web. Everything is intimately connected. This issue, that there are murdered, missing, indigenous women. It’s not a Native problem. It’s all of our problem” Ngina said.
Ngina identifies as a woman of African heritage who believes in living her life for the cause of social justice. She said she has been active in the struggle for social justice for over 30 years and was delighted to see young people actively holding discussion groups and bringing the community together to tackle the work of breaking down systems that perpetuate injustice in society.
Phoenix remains active in local Native-led land struggles and environmental causes. Phoenix once served as the chair of the cultural affairs committee of the Long Beach City College student government. While attending the college, she helped found the Native American Student Association which she said was a way to connect Native students as well as expose the campus to Native culture.
LB Grrrl Collective co-hosts a monthly healing circle specifically for people who identify as queer, black, indigenous, or a person of color with Mama Maiz of Flora y Tierra every second Wednesday of the month.
Additionally, they host an open mic every first and third Wednesday of the month.
The anti-racist learning group meets every Tuesday, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Event fliers and links to join the events on Zoom are available on their Instagram, @lbgrrrlcollective