DRAFT Searching For Justice: Injustice For Indigenous Community

The host discusses the issue of racial bias faced by indigenous communities in the criminal justice system. She highlights the high rate of imprisonment for Native Americans and the increase in violence against indigenous women. The hashtag MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women) was created to raise awareness of this issue. The history of violence against indigenous women dates back to the era of Christopher Columbus. The host also talks about the murder of Savannah Graywind and the lack of proper investigation by law enforcement. She emphasizes the need for change and encourages listeners to get involved in helping the indigenous community and the missing and murdered indigenous women. Contact information is provided for reporting missing persons. Hi, justice fans. I'm your host Maya Johnson and today I'm searching for justice We are going to dive deep into the indigenous community and how they face racial bias in the criminal justice system We will also take a look into the meaning of missing and murdered indigenous woman and where it came from We will also look into a story that holds so close to my heart and even in my hometown Fargo, North Dakota This is the story of Savannah Graywind and how her case could have been an example of unjust treatment in the indigenous community and Also looking for her story to not go unheard I Want to first talk about the background knowledge and information about unfair prison sentences and treatment in the indigenous community There are immense amount of justice system bias and racial issues with unfold cases Often cases go cold or are forgotten searches are often cut short or evidence is not taken appropriately in 2019 there has been over 10,000 native people locked up in local jails The population of indigenous peoples have been up 85% since 2000 Native men are imprisoned at four times the rate of white men in the past five years alone The number of Native Americans imprisoned in federal prisons has increased by 27% This is all can be found on the website of prison policy Initiative org with that being said the numbers are rising yet. Some go undocumented This is the same across the United States that have a great native population With that being said Native Americans fall victim to violent crimes at more than double the rate of all other US citizens according to BJS reports 88% of violent crimes committed against Native American women is carried out by non-native perpetrator You've probably seen or heard about the hashtag MMIW on social media This stands for missing and murdered indigenous women The hashtag was created to spread awareness for a silent epidemic that is still in the lives of indigenous women The hashtag was created to give voices to women whose stories have not been heard said best by C1 to CDC There is also a movement that can be seen throughout, Minnesota and in the present century It is a red hand over the mouth which has become the symbol of a growing movement the MMIW Movement it stands for all the missing women whose voices are not heard or cannot be heard It stands for the silence of the media and law enforcement at the beginning middle and end of this crisis It stands for the oppression and dominance of native women who are now rising up to say no more stolen sisters The history of violence against indigenous women can be traced back to the beginning of the European and Christopher Columbus era in Which they treated native people as a problem to be put out and Christopher Columbus engaged in murder sex trade and rape of indigenous women according to Dylan Matthews in a Vox article Columbus's crew began a history of treating indigenous women with violence yet We are still putting this together and celebrating the days that shouldn't be celebrated for Christopher Columbus. I Founded an article for the New York Times written by Jack Healy He described that there are several reasons why women go unreported or are reported incorrectly describing that women are often misclassified as Hispanic or Asian or other racial categories on missing persons forms and That thousands have been left off federal missing persons database The false reportings are leading to understatement of the importance of the issue The government finally responded to the movement from the vast amount of recognition on social media There were publications of the missing women's which has led to the recognition of the US government They started passing bills and we see this with an example in my hometown That was actually published this was the murder of Savannah Graywind On August 19th 2017 Brooke Cruz murdered eight-month pregnant Savannah Graywind slit her stomach open to take her baby Miraculously the baby is alive and well The Cruz lived in an apartment on the third floor with her boyfriend William The woman didn't know each other very well But that day Cruz showed up at the door of Graywind offering $20 to try and address that she claimed to be selling Graywind went to their apartment around 1.30, but never returned after According to oxygen true crime crew led Graywind into the bathroom and shoved her so that her head struck the sink Knocking her unconscious while Graywind struggled to come up Cruz grabbed a carpenter knife slash opened her belly and pulled out her baby at this point Cruz boyfriend came back into the bathroom to see what was going on and saw that his girlfriend had done crew explained that Her boyfriend finished Graywind off by strangling her with a rope Savannah's boyfriend went to check upstairs when he realized she's been longer than expected He asked crew if she was still there when he went upstairs to approach her Cruz response was oh She went home a while ago But Graywind's boyfriend knew in his gut there was something wrong when he asked if he could come into their apartment but Cruz response was no Cruz boyfriend was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to Commit kidnapping and giving false statements to police He successfully appealed his sentence and is expected to receive a new one oxygen.com reported But for Cruz sentence, she was sentenced to life without parole after confessing to this gruesome crime Investigators went to Cruz apartment over three Times before they were convicted but there was no testing or retrieving evidence and They also said there was nothing out of the ordinary Cruz would also tell the investigator that Savannah she would always go missing But the investigators believed that the investigators didn't ask Graywind's family if that was true Investigators went into Cruz apartment and they found the prime evidence that the baby was alive and well But only at four pounds and 13 ounces Her family has been trying to pass a bill to address the data collection gaps Nicknamed Savannah's act For Savannah herself, but it failed to pass the House of Commons So the investigators decided to go to Cruz apartment Savannah's act For Savannah herself, but it failed to pass the house in the year of 2020 It was in consideration in both the House of Representatives With which led to the passing of this act. This is the start of helping the missing and murdered indigenous women This case is a prime example of how police do not listen to the families of indigenous people And that is something that needs to be changed I really hope this is not only taught you the evidence and facts but makes you want to do something in your community to help involve yourself in the indigenous community as Well as the missing and murdered indigenous women. I Want to thank you all for listening and you can find more out at the missing and murdered Indigenous website and if you have any information on someone, you know, who is missing or tips Contact 1 8 3 3 5 6 0 2 0 6 5 or you can email at OJS underscore MMU at BIA gov until next time