Marchers recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives
A group of activists and allies marched through the Philips Neighborhood in Minneapolis to recognize Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.
According to the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force, which was formed in 2019, in the past few years, American Indian women and girls represented 8 percent of all women and girls murdered in Minnesota, despite making up less than one percent of the state’s population.
Beth O’Keefe is a member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women’s Society. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer live from the march.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Audio transcript
INTERVIEWER: It's raining in the Twin Cities. Right now, a group of activists and allies are marching through the Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis to recognize Minnesota's missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. According to the Minnesota Missing and Murdered indigenous Women Task Force, which was formed in 2019, in the past few years, American Indian women and girls represented 8% of all women and girls murdered in Minnesota, despite making up less than 1% of the state's population.
To talk about the work around recognizing this day is Beth O'Keefe. Beth is a member and advocate for the Lower Sioux Indian community and the director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women's Society. She is at the March in Minneapolis right now. Hey, Beth. Thanks for joining us.
BETH O'KEEFE: Good afternoon, Cathy. Good to be with you.
INTERVIEWER: Tell me about what you're seeing in front of you right now. What's the mood of the crowd? What's happening out there?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, our speakers just finished up. And we have thousands of people that are flushing out into the neighborhood. And they're going to begin the walk. So I remained inside so that you and I could hear each other. But it is a beautiful day, despite the rain. We're here to honor our family members, and just be in community with each other, and really looking forward to spending the day together.
INTERVIEWER: It has to be very emotional, Beth, just listening to your voice. What's that like? Can you kind of give us a sense of the energy there?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, of course, there are some family members that are sharing their story of losing a member, their search, and of course, they're all heartbreaking. And it really resonates with me and a lot of other people in the room. We did want to make sure that we talk about housing. And that we wanted to make sure that since we're deeply aware the critical role of safe housing and shelter for our survivors.
And that is the number one reason why women stay because we don't want to be homeless. And we don't want to be out on the streets with our children. We know that there's a serious lack of housing, and shelter, and resources in tribal communities. And we know that domestic and sexual violence trafficking and MMIW can be the precursor into the results of lack of safe, affordable housing. So that is one of the things that, again, we are going back to the state of Minnesota and we're asking that. Poverty is also violence. And we're asking for dignity.
And there, right now in the state legislature, we are at a surplus. Minnesota can afford this. Minnesota can afford that we have safe communities. And also, one of the things that came out of the legislature was that we do now have an office-- the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office. And that is headed up by Julie Rudy, the former Saint Paul Police Department. She worked for them for 20-plus years. She also worked for the undersheriff of Ramsey County for seven years. She is very qualified. And she is also a Native woman from the Lower Sioux Indian community as well.
INTERVIEWER: So she understands the situation. I'm wondering, there's the Minnesota-- go ahead, I'm sorry.
BETH O'KEEFE: No. You go ahead, please.
INTERVIEWER: The Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Task Force-- I think and I talked about that back in 2019 when it was formed. What have you seen from them that you like, that seems to be working?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, part of what was-- to even convene that group, they had tribal communities that were. There they had urban populations that were there. They had people that had served the community. And they had a long discussion. And they made sure that many people were at the table. And from that, we already see that they're going to be opening a missing and murdered office for our African-American relatives as well. So we just really feel that-- especially I, as a Dakota person-- that this is our land.
And this was the way that it always was. Women were always respected. And we had dignity. And we had a place in our community. And we are reclaiming that sacred place. And that we are very happy to do that in the state of Minnesota. And I do feel that we get support not only from our governor, Governor Walz, and Peggy Flanagan. She has been a huge supporter of this March. Just really, really happy to be in community again, and to see people, and to see our other relatives and be together as we honor the family that isn't here with us.
INTERVIEWER: Beth, I know that this is really emotional for you. And I-- before you go, I do want to know personally-- it's just it takes so much to do this work. What keeps you going?
BETH O'KEEFE: Today, there was a bus that came from Lower Sioux. And there's 50 young people on that bus. It is my job not only to protect them, but to make sure that they have a world worth inheriting. In our traditions, we talk about seven generations. So we have been planning and planning. And we pray for all those other generations-- that they don't live in a violent home. They don't live in a violent community, that violence has been perpetrated on them. So it really is about our future and about the young people.
INTERVIEWER: Beth, thank you. I wish I had more time with you. I appreciate your time. I know you're going to go out into the streets of Minneapolis with the march right now. Thank you so much.
BETH O'KEEFE: Thank you so much for your work. And, yes, we're going to get back to work as well. You have a wonderful day.
INTERVIEWER: You too. Thank you, Beth. Beth O'Keefe-- she's a member and advocate for the Lower Sioux Indian community in far Western Minnesota-- also the director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women's Society.
To talk about the work around recognizing this day is Beth O'Keefe. Beth is a member and advocate for the Lower Sioux Indian community and the director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women's Society. She is at the March in Minneapolis right now. Hey, Beth. Thanks for joining us.
BETH O'KEEFE: Good afternoon, Cathy. Good to be with you.
INTERVIEWER: Tell me about what you're seeing in front of you right now. What's the mood of the crowd? What's happening out there?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, our speakers just finished up. And we have thousands of people that are flushing out into the neighborhood. And they're going to begin the walk. So I remained inside so that you and I could hear each other. But it is a beautiful day, despite the rain. We're here to honor our family members, and just be in community with each other, and really looking forward to spending the day together.
INTERVIEWER: It has to be very emotional, Beth, just listening to your voice. What's that like? Can you kind of give us a sense of the energy there?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, of course, there are some family members that are sharing their story of losing a member, their search, and of course, they're all heartbreaking. And it really resonates with me and a lot of other people in the room. We did want to make sure that we talk about housing. And that we wanted to make sure that since we're deeply aware the critical role of safe housing and shelter for our survivors.
And that is the number one reason why women stay because we don't want to be homeless. And we don't want to be out on the streets with our children. We know that there's a serious lack of housing, and shelter, and resources in tribal communities. And we know that domestic and sexual violence trafficking and MMIW can be the precursor into the results of lack of safe, affordable housing. So that is one of the things that, again, we are going back to the state of Minnesota and we're asking that. Poverty is also violence. And we're asking for dignity.
And there, right now in the state legislature, we are at a surplus. Minnesota can afford this. Minnesota can afford that we have safe communities. And also, one of the things that came out of the legislature was that we do now have an office-- the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office. And that is headed up by Julie Rudy, the former Saint Paul Police Department. She worked for them for 20-plus years. She also worked for the undersheriff of Ramsey County for seven years. She is very qualified. And she is also a Native woman from the Lower Sioux Indian community as well.
INTERVIEWER: So she understands the situation. I'm wondering, there's the Minnesota-- go ahead, I'm sorry.
BETH O'KEEFE: No. You go ahead, please.
INTERVIEWER: The Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Task Force-- I think and I talked about that back in 2019 when it was formed. What have you seen from them that you like, that seems to be working?
BETH O'KEEFE: Well, part of what was-- to even convene that group, they had tribal communities that were. There they had urban populations that were there. They had people that had served the community. And they had a long discussion. And they made sure that many people were at the table. And from that, we already see that they're going to be opening a missing and murdered office for our African-American relatives as well. So we just really feel that-- especially I, as a Dakota person-- that this is our land.
And this was the way that it always was. Women were always respected. And we had dignity. And we had a place in our community. And we are reclaiming that sacred place. And that we are very happy to do that in the state of Minnesota. And I do feel that we get support not only from our governor, Governor Walz, and Peggy Flanagan. She has been a huge supporter of this March. Just really, really happy to be in community again, and to see people, and to see our other relatives and be together as we honor the family that isn't here with us.
INTERVIEWER: Beth, I know that this is really emotional for you. And I-- before you go, I do want to know personally-- it's just it takes so much to do this work. What keeps you going?
BETH O'KEEFE: Today, there was a bus that came from Lower Sioux. And there's 50 young people on that bus. It is my job not only to protect them, but to make sure that they have a world worth inheriting. In our traditions, we talk about seven generations. So we have been planning and planning. And we pray for all those other generations-- that they don't live in a violent home. They don't live in a violent community, that violence has been perpetrated on them. So it really is about our future and about the young people.
INTERVIEWER: Beth, thank you. I wish I had more time with you. I appreciate your time. I know you're going to go out into the streets of Minneapolis with the march right now. Thank you so much.
BETH O'KEEFE: Thank you so much for your work. And, yes, we're going to get back to work as well. You have a wonderful day.
INTERVIEWER: You too. Thank you, Beth. Beth O'Keefe-- she's a member and advocate for the Lower Sioux Indian community in far Western Minnesota-- also the director of the Minnesota Indigenous Women's Society.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.