Hundreds of Washington Native Americans gather to raise awareness for missing, murdered community members [Video]

NISQUALLY INDIAN COMMUNITY, Wash. — Hundreds of people from various Native American tribes gathered at the Nisqually Reservation on Tuesday in observance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.

The event, organized by the Nisqually Tribal Health and Wellness Center, brought together about 20 different Native American Tribes, according to Lavita Plumage, who works for the center.

Many of them wore red clothing and used red face paint, a powerful symbol of the Native Americans whose voices have been silenced, a defining element of the event.

“If it’s any other ethnicity,” Plumage said. “If it’s a white woman, everybody is aware of it, but it’s never like that in Indian country. We are our own advocates.”

“It was huge,” Plumage said. “Like I said, she was an employee, and the next …