Giving a Voice to Our Stolen Sisters
Location
Hemmingson 310
Start Date
28-3-2026 11:10 AM
End Date
28-3-2026 12:00 PM
Description
Description: This session examines the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) in the United States as a systemic human rights issue rooted in colonial legal structures, data failures, and institutional neglect. It highlights how fragmented federal databases, jurisdictional barriers, and inadequate infrastructure contribute to the underreporting and delayed investigation of cases. Through case studies and community responses, this research demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen tribal sovereignty, invest in Indigenous-led safety systems, and indigenize public and institutional spaces. Addressing MMIW requires centering Indigenous voices, improving data accountability, and supporting cultural, legal, and community-based solutions to prevent further violence. Speaker Bio: Ms. Ayon is from Los Angeles, representing her heritage, Pascua Yaqui and Mexican. She is attending GU’s School of Business and Minoring in Native American Studies. She works on campus, is the VP of Programming of the AAF Gonzaga Marketing Club, and is active in the Native American Student Union.
Recommended Citation
Ayon, Stacie, "Giving a Voice to Our Stolen Sisters" (2026). Payne Center for Leadership Development Student Leadership Conference. 11.
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/payne_slc/2026/general/11
Giving a Voice to Our Stolen Sisters
Hemmingson 310
Description: This session examines the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) in the United States as a systemic human rights issue rooted in colonial legal structures, data failures, and institutional neglect. It highlights how fragmented federal databases, jurisdictional barriers, and inadequate infrastructure contribute to the underreporting and delayed investigation of cases. Through case studies and community responses, this research demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen tribal sovereignty, invest in Indigenous-led safety systems, and indigenize public and institutional spaces. Addressing MMIW requires centering Indigenous voices, improving data accountability, and supporting cultural, legal, and community-based solutions to prevent further violence. Speaker Bio: Ms. Ayon is from Los Angeles, representing her heritage, Pascua Yaqui and Mexican. She is attending GU’s School of Business and Minoring in Native American Studies. She works on campus, is the VP of Programming of the AAF Gonzaga Marketing Club, and is active in the Native American Student Union.