Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer

Native women still disproportionately face violence in Minnesota

Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend
Thomas Peters of Tama, Iowa carries a sign honoring Rita Papakee.
Thomas Peters of Tama, Iowa carries a sign honoring Rita Papakee during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples March in Minneapolis, Minn. on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. Papakee, who is part of the Meskwaki Nation, has been missing since 2015. "When one of us is missing it's felt by all," said Tashina Azure, who attended the march with other members of Meskwaki Nation.
Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News

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A new report from Amnesty International says the United States has made no progress in fixing the problems that have led to a disproportionate number of Indigenous women going missing and being murdered.

Here in Minnesota, between 2012 and 2020, on average 40 American Indian women and girls were missing in any given month.

Host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Minnesota DFL Senator Mary Kunesh — who has been leading efforts to understand why this is such a problem and how to solve it.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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