Local Potawatomi Tribes Advocate for Justice and Highlight National Crisis
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi will host the March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).
This event routes through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, to observe National MMIP Awareness Day.
Event Details:
- What: March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, one-mile walk
- When: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m.
- Where: Rosa Parks Circle (135 Monroe Center St NW), Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Who: Hosted by three local Potawatomi Tribes: NHBP, Pokagon, and Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band. We welcome all Natives, non-Native allies, and advocates against violence.
- Why: To raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) and honor their memories.
- Participant Instructions: This is a free, public event, held rain or shine. Participants should arrive at Rosa Parks Circle by noon and wear RED to honor the missing.
“We march because the silence surrounding our missing sisters, brothers, and children is deafening. This isn’t just a ‘Native issue’ – it is a human rights crisis happening in our own backyards,” said Ariel Boonstra, Vice Chair for NHBP. “By gathering in the heart of Grand Rapids, we are reclaiming the stories that have been ignored and demanding the national priority this crisis deserves. We wear red so that our loved ones are never again invisible.”
This event brings Natives and non-Native allies together peacefully to shatter the silence. We march to give a voice to the thousands of unsolved cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People – an issue that must become a national priority.
Across the United States, there are tens of thousands of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People whose cases have gone misidentified, unsolved, and unprosecuted. The BIA estimates that there are 4200 known cases that are currently unsolved. This crisis is not distant, it impacts families and tribal communities across the State of Michigan every day. There are approximately 4,000 open MMIP cases connected to Michigan, despite Native Americans making up less than 1% of the population. This crisis is deeply personal in tribal communities. Many families are still searching for their loved ones and their cases remain unresolved, often without the needed urgency and support. The continued recognition of May 5th through memorial marches and awareness events underscores the ongoing need for enhanced and coordinated action, culturally grounded resources, and sustained public attention to ensure safety and justice for Indigenous people.
We invite participants to gather at Rosa Parks Circle to open the event at noon. Attendees will hear from speakers representing the movement before embarking on a one-mile march through downtown Grand Rapids. The event will conclude at 3 p.m. People from all walks of life who wish to stand in solidarity are encouraged to join us. Please remember to wear red.
Media Opportunities:
- Photo and video opportunities of the opening remarks and the one-mile march.
- Interviews with Tribal leaders and MMIP task force members are available upon request.
Media Contact:
Narciso Tovar
(269) 491-1139
narciso.tovar@nhbp-nsn.gov
About The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
NHBP is a federally recognized Tribal government located at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation near Athens, Michigan, with more than 1,700 enrolled Tribal Members. NHBP’s economic development entities include Vegas-style casino FireKeepers Casino Hotel and Waséyabek, which focuses on the pursuit of non-gaming, economic diversification opportunities.
For more information, visit www.nhbp-nsn.gov.
About Gun Lake Tribe
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe) has a rich history in West Michigan and close connection to the land. The Bradley Indian Mission, located near Wayland, is the historic residential and cultural center point of the tribal community. The Tribe’s ancestors, and political predecessors, signed treaties with the United States government dating back to 1795. The Tribe was re-affirmed to federal recognition in 1999.
For more information about the Tribe visit https://gunlaketribe-nsn.gov/.
About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band provides community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,400 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of non-gaming businesses through its investment enterprises, Mno-Bmadsen and the Pokagon Development Authority, including Rolling Embers.
More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.
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