Indigenous Peoples and Violence

​Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, and sex trafficking disproportionately affect Indigenous people in relation to other racial and ethnic groups. Women, girls, and two-spirit individuals are especially impacted by this violence. Most alarming is the reality that 84.3 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis has manifested itself on reservations and in urban areas in the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico. Violence against Indigenous peoples is an international crisis.

This working page aims to provide information and resources on issues related to Indigenous peoples and violence, particularly in the U.S. On these pages, you will find current and developing legislation, reports, Tribal and non-Tribal organizations working on these issues, and resources to all who are affected by this crisis.

Quick Stats 

  • American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes and at least 2 times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes compared to all other races.
  • More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women, or 84.3 percent, have experienced violence in their lifetime. 
  • ​Homicide is the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women between 10 and 24 years of age and the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age.
  • In 2017, the top three cities with the highest number of MMIWG cases were Seattle, WA (45); Albuquerque, NM (37); and Anchorage, AK (31). The top three states were New Mexico, Washington, and Arizona.
  • In the U.S. and Canada, an average of 40 percent of the women who were victims of sex trafficking identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Find more information at Urban Indian Health Institute, Lakota People's Law Project, and Sovereign Bodies Institute. You can also view our TikTok on MMIWG2S for more insight into this ongoing crisis.