The proclamation highlights Washington’s alarmingly high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls—the second highest in the United States, according to the Urban Indian Health Institute. It further outlines that Native women in Washington face a murder rate more than 10 times the national average in certain regions, and that for Native females under the age of 19, homicide is the third leading cause of death.
In response to this public safety and human rights crisis, the Washington State Legislature created the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force in 2021. The Task Force aims to address systemic violence, improve data collection, and propose actionable policy solutions. The governor’s proclamation commends the Task Force’s efforts to amplify the voices of survivors and families while tackling jurisdictional gaps and long-standing systemic inequities.
Governor Ferguson emphasized that the purpose of this month is not only to honor the lives lost but to raise awareness, support healing for families and communities, and promote justice and accountability. The proclamation calls on all Washingtonians to participate in related activities, educate themselves on issues such as human trafficking, and support those working to prevent violence against Indigenous people.
The observance also reaffirms the state’s commitment to ensuring that no family is left without support during times of trauma and that the voices of impacted Indigenous communities continue to be centered in the pursuit of justice.
The proclamation was signed on May 7, 2025.