SALT LAKE COUNTY – The Elizabeth Smart Foundation (ESF) ended its last campaign with the aim of raising awareness of the “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women” (MMIW) crisis.
The MMIW USA group said it was excited to join the ESF, but has now accused the foundation of exploiting its platform to serve its own interests.
Elizabeth Smart is shown in a video launching a week-long fitness challenge called “Find them all”.
Smart returned to his family in March 2003, after being kidnapped for nine months. In this latest campaign, she promises to find all the women.
“There are so many that are never found – that are never even sought after. They just disappear and nothing happens. Unfortunately, none other than indigenous and indigenous women and girls, “she said.
She explains that the entire collection will be destined to the prevention and recovery of missing and indigenous women.
“Because every missing person deserves to go home.”
On a Facebook Post, MMIW USA issued a warning to its supporters:
“We were approached by this organization to” collaborate “with them to” find all women “. At the beginning, of course, we were thrilled that our Anglo colleagues were showing an interest in helping us. Our team initially spoke with a representative from their organization to get an idea of what they were trying to accomplish.
“Unfortunately, we were greeted with a condescending tone from a man who was culturally insensitive. In short, it seemed that the interest in helping us was based on the desire to promote himself and a woman who knew little about the #MMIW crisis; and showed no interest in learning more about our struggle in terms of finding and obtaining justice for our people. “
FOX 13 News contacted the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. They explained that they approached MMIW USA and several organizations to help provide content and people who could tell their stories:
“In developing this initiative to find indigenous and missing indigenous peoples, we conducted a significant investigation and due diligence. This included working with a number of groups, including tribal councils, to guide us on how best to help them find their loved ones. Unfortunately, after launching the Find Them All campaign, we are sad because, despite our best efforts and several attempts to meet MMIW USA’s expectations, we were unable to find common ground. Out of respect for them and all native and indigenous voices, and also to prevent the greater effort from being overshadowed, we are stepping back to find other ways to provide support. As a basis, we will continue our work to end victimization and exploitation of sexual assault through prevention, recovery and defense. “
Despite the fight, indigenous activist and runner Jordan Daniel, who was included in the fitness challenge, says he believes the foundation has good intentions.
Daniel says he was disappointed to hear about his problems with MMIW USA, but he would like to work with the ESF to find common ground.
The National Resource Center for Indigenous Women also issued a statement to FOX 13:
“As a culturally based resource center dedicated to ending violence against indigenous women, the National Resource Center for Indigenous Women works with an extensive network of tribes, defenders, indigenous organizations and surviving families of missing indigenous women and girls and murdered (MMIWG). We are very intentional about developing these partnerships due to the sensitive nature of our work. We were recently introduced to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and we are leaving lines of communication open for the conscious and collaborative development of MMIWG awareness activities that raise the voices of indigenous advocates and families affected by this violence. “