MMIP Symposium and 5K Run/Walk raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples and affirm community engagement
The IndigWellbeing program at the Zuckerman College of Public Health organized two events this May to raise awareness about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples – a 5K Run/Walk and a Symposium – and both events brought the community together for conversation, connection, and healing.
The IndigWellbeing program at the U of A’s Zuckerman College of Public Health organized two events in May to raise awareness about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) and to bring the community together for conversation, connection, and healing.
The first event, the fifth annual Southern Arizona Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness 5K Run/Walk, connected a wide range of community partners and individuals to find common purpose and increase awareness of this important issue. The event was held on Saturday, May 3, 2024, at Pima Community College West Campus, in Tucson, AZ, and drew more than 200 participants along with many community organizations who joined to support the cause.
The second event, the fourth annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Day of Awareness Symposium (MMIP Symposium) brought together speakers from many tribes, local and national agencies, and diverse perspectives to discuss MMIP issues and solutions. The Symposium was held on May 5, 2025, in the Health Sciences Innovation Building (HSIB) on the University of Arizona Health Sciences campus in Tucson, AZ, on the traditional homelands of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui.
You can see the 2025 MMIP Symposium Program with speaker bios here.
An Annual Day of Awareness
Annually, May 5 is National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Native American and Alaska Native rates of murder, rape, and violent crime are all higher than national averages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) females experienced the second highest rate of homicide in 2020 and non-Hispanic AI/AN males had the second highest rate of homicide compared with males in all other racial and ethnic groups. In addition, more than 2 in 5 non-Hispanic AI/AN women reported being raped in their lifetime.
The IndigiWellbeing program, launched by MEZCOPH Assistant Professor Felina Cordova-Marks, DrPH, MPH, MSc, organizes culturally grounded programming for Native and Indigenous students, staff, faculty and community members to build connection and awareness among participants as a path to health and wellness. Both MMIP events were organized by the Indigiwellbeing program and coordinated by Dr. Cordova-Marks and William Carson, PhD, MPH, who graduated with his PhD this Spring 2025. For more information about IndigiWellbeing, visit publichealth.arizona.edu/outreach/indigiwellbeing.
Details of the MMIP Symposium
The MMIP Symposium brought together many experts, advocates, representatives, and community members.
In addition to the Zuckerman College of Public Health, the MMIP Symposium was sponsored by Allianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, Arizona Arts at the UA, Indigenous Strategies, IndigiWellbeing, the UA’s LGBTQ+ Institute, the UA’s Office of Native American Initiatives, the UA Health Sciences Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement,, Pima Community College, and the Tucson Indian Center.
The 2025 MMIP Symposium theme: Moving Beyond Awareness to Healing and Action. The Symposium agenda included:
Welcome and Blessing
Alberta Arviso, PhD (Diné)
MMIP Symposium Planning Committee
Advocating for MMIP
Daelynn Nez (Diné)
Mazey Ortega (Tohono O’odham)
Hannah Williams (Diné/Navajo)
Hoop Dance for Healing
Shadé Phae-Young (Navajo/Hopi/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo)
MMIP and Southern AZ: Pima County, City of Tucson Task Force and Current Legal Developments
Laura Conover, JD
Pima County Attorney, City of Tucson MMIP Task Force
Reanna de Jesus, JD
Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Office of the Prosecutor
Quickly Mobilizing Communities for Action
Ariana Esparza (Tohono O’odham)
Tohono O’odham Nation Recreation Division | Recreation Services Manager
Journalism and Creating Change with Data (AZ MMIP Database)
Chelsea Curtis (Diné)
AZ Luminaria (digital news site for Tucson and Arizona)
We Want Them Alive: Mutual Support Networks from North to South (Ni Una Más + MMIR)
Moderator:
Saray Argumedo (Chichimeca)
Panelists:
Mary Favela
Illena Espinoza
Data for Change – Pima County Health Department Violence and Mortality Data
Rachel Hinkel, MPH, Epidemiologist
Office of Injury and Violence Prevention, Pima County Health Department
Amanda Lam, MD, MPH, Data Modernization and Informatics Strategist
Pima County Health Department
Caroline Lewis, MDP, Community Engagement Manager
Pima County Health Department – Office of Policy, Resilience and Engagement
Jingle Dress Dance for Healing/Closing Blessing
Nyona Smith (Tohono O’odham)
Boxing and Self Defense Workshop
Netta Agredano, MSW (Chichimeca)
Aztlan Boxing Club, Tucson, Az
Details of the MMIP 5K Run/Walk
The MMIP Run/Walk was held at Pima Community College’s West Campus.
The 2025 MMIP 5K Run/Walk agenda included remarks before the run from:
Welcome
SAZ MMIP Run Planning Committee
Blessing
Alberta Arviso, PhD (Diné)
Elder of Honor Keynote Address
Alberta Arviso, PhD (Diné)
After the run, presentations included:
Flute Performance
Tygel Pinto (Diné)
Keynote Address – Miss Native University of Arizona Royalty
Daelynn Nez (Diné)
Mazey Ortega (Tohono O’odham)
Hannah Williams (Diné/Navajo)
In addition to the Zuckerman College of Public Health, the MMIP 5K Run/Walk was sponsored by Allianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, Indigenous Strategies, IndigiWellbeing, the UA’s Office of Native American Initiatives, Pima Community College, Pima County Health Department, and the Tucson Indian Center.
Other community partners participating in the event included the digital news outlet Arizona Luminaria, the printing company Gloo Factory, the UA’s LGBTQ+ Institute, and Native Seeds/SEARCH.
Conclusion
The Zuckerman College of Public Health is proud to support the IndigiWellbeing program and the program’s annual MMIP events that help to increase awareness, find solutions, and heal communities. Thanks to everyone who supported the MMIP events this year in so many ways, from the attendees to our presenters, sponsors, artists and performers. Together we will build a safer, healthier community.