Duluth Rally emphasizes missing and murdered cases of indigenous women and relatives

Duluth, Minn. (Northern News now) -The Twin -Ports community spent the day to illuminate the often forgotten people.

May 5th is the national aid day of consciousness for missing and murdered indigenous women and relatives.

A large event took place outside of Duluth City Hall to raise awareness and to find answers to their cases.

People made signs, wore red and gathered and demanded answers to their loved ones.

According to state data, 716 indigenous people in Minnesota were reported as missing last year, a disproportionately high number compared to the total population.

Steve Woodworth's sister Melissa was missing from Alexandria, Minnesota four and a half years ago, most recently with a man in a motorhome on the way to Texas.

This man claims that they got into a dispute, Melissa got out somewhere in Iowa and he never saw her again.

Her brother hopes for her safe return every day.

“It is important to keep them outside because people forget because I don't want my sister to be forgotten,” said Woodworth.

Another person, Peter Martin's nephew Ian, spoke about these missing family members.

Peter was registered in March 2024 in the Fond du LAC Reserve without answers.

Ian Martin says that events like this are so important in which people who have the same problem are so important.

“It gives a good feeling for community and a good feeling of the family, and we can deal with the most important topics in our communities, and that is missing and murdered indigenous people,” said Ian Martin.

Martin encouraged people to continue to give the law enforcement authorities tips on these cases.

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