Members of the Wampanog Tribe of Aquinnah (Gay Head) and students of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) displayed attire at school on Tuesday, May 5, for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
Students hoped to bring awareness to members of the MVRHS community and inspire them to look further into the pressing matter. For generations, Native people have started grassroot organizations hoping to bring attention to the mistreatment of indigenous people, specifically women and children. The day spread informally across local communities until it became a recognized Native American holiday nationwide in 2017. Yet tribal youth at MVRHS still feel there is a lack of knowledge about the issue and commemorative day in mainstream culture.
Senior Soraya Randolph and sophomore Erick Moore, who are both members of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, decided to commemorate the day by wearing native clothing and eating fry bread, a comfort food that is a symbol of resilience to various native people. “For most of us, we only get [fry bread] once a year in September [during powwow],” said Soraya. MMIWG “is a rough day already, so we deserve a little treat.”
Soraya organized the day of awareness by inviting more students into a group chat, where they discussed wearing contemporary articles of native clothing, like ribbon skirts, jewelry, and native-made sweatshirts to school. “I was really excited about the clothing plan,” said sophomore Kaya Rutkowski. “I love being able to wear my native jewelry and clothes. It’s such a great way to incorporate our culture into our everyday life.”
“We all always say that we should all dress up in our traditional clothing all the way back in September, but it never happens,” said Soraya. “People don’t want to deal with the comments from ignorant people or the weird looks, so then we had to wear something more modern [to better blend in], like ribbon skirts,” said Soraya.
Throughout the schoolday, peers and faculty members respectfully asked questions that the participating students were happy to answer, while also encouraging non-native people to learn more on their own. “I think most non-native people don’t know about MMIWG day,” Kaya said. “I think it’s very important to raise awareness and spread the information [that native women and girls are at risk].”
“I thought they [the participating native students] all looked beautiful. I thought [contemporary clothing] was important to show that native people have culture beyond just stereotypical nomadic tribes, and where we stop learning in school,” said sophomore Zoe Higgins.
Zoe added that it’s important to talk to native people directly to learn about their experiences and challenges they still face. “Issues that native people go through didn’t end after we stopped learning about it. I really think it was wonderful [to draw attention to this],“ said Zoe.
“The rate for native women to go missing or experience violence is so likely that it just impacts everyone,” said Soraya. “Every native person I know knew a native woman who went missing or was murdered. Even if non-native people don’t, it still affects them.”