The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), along with the New York State Tribal Nations and a coalition of other state agencies – including the Division of Criminal Justice Services; Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Office of Victim Services; Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and the Office of General Services – joined today to host a walk in downtown Albany in recognition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Day. The walk began at the Missing Persons Remembrance Eternal Flame Monument and ended at the Empire State Plaza Concourse at an art installation featuring decorated paper cutouts of red dresses and red shirts – symbolizing the individuals who have been murdered or are missing.

Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation in recognition of MMIP Awareness Week and directed that 15 landmarks across the state be lit in red tonight (May 5) in honor of MMIP Awareness Day.

“New York State joins in this observance by reaffirming its commitment to prevention, justice, and healing for all Native American families, communities, and nations affected by violence,” Governor Hochul said in the proclamation.

The proclamation also notes that New York established a task force on missing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) women and girls in 2023 to assess this epidemic, address discrepancies in the care with which these cases are treated and develop policies to increase community education.

“The rate at which Native women and girls are murdered is alarmingly high at up to 10 times the national average, with four out of five experiencing violence in their lifetimes, and more than half surviving sexual assault,” Governor Hochul said in the proclamation. “Native American women, girls, LGBTQ+ community members, and Two-Spirit individuals face disproportionate rates of gender-based violence often stemming from the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.”

Nationwide, Native American and Alaska Native rates of murder, rape and violent crime are all higher than the national averages for the general population, and Native American and Alaska Native women make up a significant portion of missing or murdered individuals, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. The crisis, according to community advocates, is a legacy of generations of government policies of forced removal, land seizures and violence inflicted on Native peoples.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, “New York State has the tenth largest Native American population in the United States, and New York City has one of the highest urban-based Indigenous populations. As one of three agencies entrusted with the vital responsibility of serving New York State’s Native American populations, OCFS has perspective into the beautiful and unique traditions; yet we are left heartbroken due to the injustices of violence towards Indigenous women. It is our collective responsibility and moral imperative to provide resources to support those affected by such crimes, and remember and honor those in the Indigenous community who have been murdered or identified as missing.”

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeannette Moy said, “Today’s memorial walk and art installation at the Empire State Plaza draw attention to the high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people across New York State. OGS is proud to have a role in an initiative that calls attention to the importance of speaking out on behalf of those Indigenous people who have lost the ability to speak for themselves.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn said, “As we honor the memory of Indigenous people who have been murdered or are missing, we must commit to redoubling our efforts to addressing the disproportionate number of Native American women and girls who are subjected to violent crime and assisting those who have survived these horrific acts. We proudly join Governor Hochul and our state agency partners in recognizing that we all have a role to play in raising awareness and preventing acts of violence against Indigenous people.”

New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “We have made progress in raising awareness of the disproportionate levels of violence that indigenous women face, but we know gaps exist when they – and all indigenous people – seek help following a crime. We remain committed to increasing access to direct services and ensuring that victims and survivors of crime receive the compensation and assistance they need to help them heal. We stand with our sister agencies to remind New Yorkers of this important issue and thank Governor Hochul for her unwavering support of our work.”

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, "Native American women, girls and LGBTQ+ community members have been affected by violence in staggering numbers for too long. As caretakers of the only New York State Historic Site dedicated to Native American history, and the only Seneca town preserved and interpreted in the United States, this issue hits close to home for State Parks. Our agency stands firmly alongside the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the New York State Tribal Nations, and the coalition of state agencies to raise awareness and seek justice for Indigenous people and people of color who have been harmed in any way but this vicious scourge." 

If you have information that may help solve a missing or murdered case, you can help by calling the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tip Line at 1-833-560-2065. In addition, the Strong Hearts Helpline at 1-844-7NATIVE offers support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives experiencing domestic and sexual violence.

For information about Native American services in New York State, visit the Native American Services page on the website for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

About the New York State Office of Children and Family Services: 

The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of children, families and communities. The agency provides a system of family support, juvenile justice, youth development, child care and child welfare services and is responsible for programs and services involving foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child protective services, preventive services for children and families, and protective programs for vulnerable adults. 

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