A grand opening and ribbon cutting was held last week for Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, an agency that raises awareness of missing and murdered Native American women, plus domestic violence and healing.
The office is located at 724 W. Texas St.
Karrisa Newkirk, president, of MMIW, said the agency moved into the building in December and they are honored to be there.
She spoke of honoring board members, families, sponsors and also Brandon LaRue and the late Terry Ashby.
LaRue was the first person to make a donation.
“So, that is one person that I wanted to honor today because without that first donation, we would have never gotten this far,” Newkirk said. “The second person I want to honor is Terry Ashby. Terry Ashby was very close to my family and he is no longer here with us anymore, but he gave me the courage to do this. He told me I could do it.
“He told me how to do it and how to do it in the most respectful way. I wouldn’t have gotten a board without him.”
Newkirk invited the board members to come to the front.
“These wonderful people are selfless,” Newkirk said. “They serve our community in every single way. Nights, days, weekends, holidays. Thanksgiving, they feed the homeless.”
According to Newkirk, MMIW assists any federally recognized tribes.
“So, if they’re missing, their families can come here,” Newkirk said.
Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat “If they have been murdered, we will pay for funeral expenses and we will help them find a traditional way to bury their loved ones. We will get them media attention. We will do anything that we have to do.”
MMIW started a program last year to serve victims of domestic violence.
“We have served our domestic violence men and women and we have relocated them from all over and brought them back here to Oklahoma because this is where their tribal nations are,” Newkirk said. “If their tribal nation is in Oklahoma, we’ll bring them back to their tribal nation.”
MMIW’s hotline is 1-888401-0972.
“If you ever have a family member that needs something or a loved one that needs something, let them know that there are people out there (to help), Newkirk said.
MMIW will be providing free preparedness training on active shooters, self defense, first aid and trauma response.
This will be from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, March 8 in the former church building, now a People First Industries facility, across the street from the MMIW office at 724 W. Texas St.
Only 50 spots are available and to RSVP, call 1-888-401-0972 or email mmiwchahta@gmail.com.
Also, Easter baskets will be provided to chosen elders that are in need and an MMIW walk will be in May.
Jennifer Spainhour, vice chairperson of MMIW said there have been multiple instances of violence in Durant.
“People have come to us experiencing violence and didn’t know where to go or what to do,” Spainhour said. “Many of us have been pulled from other responsibilities because we have the opportunity to serve our people here in many different ways.
“Whether that be giving them rides to the doctor. Whether that be partnering with our local law enforcement or partnering within our tribes, with our members and our community to where we can give them more of a full-rounded place to heal. So, we really appreciate the community that we have here today and the ones that couldn’t be here. Without you, we would not be able to be who we are and be able to serve in the way that we do. We really appreciate you.”
