The Spirits of Our Stolen Sisters

Written by: Brady Hamilton

A child’s laughter, a daughter’s smile, and a mother’s warm embrace—these treasures once filled the hearts of families across the great nations. Yet, for too many, these blessings have been cruelly stolen, severing ties of love and leaving wounds that refuse to heal. This tragedy has become far too prevalent to continue being ignored.

From nation to nation, North to South, mothers yearn to see and hold their daughters, and children ache for the love that only a mother can give. Lives are torn from the fabric of existence, leaving behind shattered families and unending grief. With each recurrence of such tragedies, we must pause and ask ourselves—Why?

This series of photographs unveils a heartbreaking reality—a wall adorned with missing person flyers. Each flyer represents ‘155’ unsolved cases, yet the truth is even more harrowing. These numbers only reflect the unresolved. Many more cases end in devastating loss, leaving families to confront the unthinkable—lives stolen too soon.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, Director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, has highlighted how city police departments often assume that cases involving tribal members are solely the responsibility of the tribes—even when victims do not reside on tribal land. This misconception has fueled a nationwide data crisis, concealing the full extent of violence faced by Indigenous people. As a result, investigations are frequently mishandled or delayed, discouraging many from reporting crimes at all.

By the end of 2023, of the 10,650 cases filed for American Indian and Alaska Natives, 1,631 remained open, with nearly 40% involving women. Many survivors face the grim reality that their abusers are rarely prosecuted. Imagine knowing five people who reported sexual violence, only to see no justice served. Would you still feel safe reporting your own assault? This is the crushing reality far too many endure.

With such jurisdictional failures, who can victims turn to in their darkest hours? Knowing our shared history, we can no longer allow these injustices to persist. For generations, countless tribes have been exploited and ignored. Now is the time to shine a light on these ongoing tragedies and demand accountability.

Justice must no longer be denied. Without Indigenous peoples, our nation would lack much of its cultural richness and heritage. It is time to stand in solidarity with our Native brothers and sisters. No mother should live with the anguish of not knowing where her daughter is. No daughter should carry the lifelong burden of losing her mother to violence. The time for change is now. Together, we must rise—or together, we will fall.