Restoring Ancestral Winds (RAWI), a dual tribal coalition on domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA), will celebrate its first Advocacy Day on February 20, 2025 at 2:30pm-5:00pm at the Utah Capitol, 350 North State Street, Board Room, 2nd floor, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114. Admission is free. Registration is required at https://restoringawcoalition.org. This event is co-hosted by RAWI and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Utah nonprofit.
This year’s theme is Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, We Shall Remain and will focus on the missing and murdered Indigenous people in Utah where the Urban Indian Health Institute published a study of 71 cities in the U.S. and found Utah and Salt Lake City are among the top 10 for missing and murdered Indigenous people. The Utah MMIR Task Force published report can be located at the RAWI website.Â
“Victim advocates, social workers, and healers are the compassionate hands guiding those in pain toward healing and hope. Nonprofits like Restoring Ancestral Winds offer nurturing support through life’s challenges,” says Buu Nygren, President of the Navajo Nation. “Community organizers bring us together, fostering unity and collective action. It through this collective effort-grounded in compassion and love-that we can raise awareness and educate one another about critical issues that arise when it comes to our MMIR.”Â
The program will include invited guest speakers Kassie John, Miss Indian World 2024-25, Latosha Mayo, Health Director, Paiute Indian Tribe, Utah House of Representative Angela Romero, Yolanda Francisco, RAWI Director and other Utah tribal leaders and legislators. The program includes presentations about the Utah MMIR Task Force Report, Civics 101, and MMIR House Bill HB15. The day will end with interactive activities creating red lapel pins, pledge signing and photos for social media.Â
The tribal DV/SA Helpline is 1-833-NTV-HEAL.
For more information about Restoring Ancestral Winds Inc. visit https://restoringawcoalition.org.
