Wunee keesuq Tribal family,

We’ve devoted the front page of this month’s Mittark to the search for a beautiful, young tribal member that has been missing since October 20. Jalajhia Finklea had just celebrated her 18th birthday and was last seen with 36-year old Luis Zaragoza Barboza.

I pray that by the time the print edition of the Mittark reaches your home she has been brought home safely. However, as I sit down to write my column this month, she remains missing. Our Tribe is committed to making this a national search and ensuring it receives all the attention necessary to bring her home now.

Sadly, the growing number of missing indigenous women across the country do not receive the attention that our Caucasian neighbors receive. It’s an ugly fact of systematic racism. The numbers are staggering. Our women and girls are being taken from us in at an alarming rate. Our women are abducted at a rate 10 times higher than other ethnicities.

We have to work harder to bring attention to Jalajhia and that’s exactly what we will do. Grassroots efforts, like the campaign we’ve launched, have proven to be effective. We do need your help. Please share the information we’ve provided. Post the information around town and share across all of your networks.

Please visit our website mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov for updates on Jalajhia or on our facebook page facebook.com/mwtribe. If you have any information, please contact the New Bedford Police Department at 508-991-6360.

Kutâputunumuw;

Chairman Cedric Cromwell
Qaqeemasq (Running Bear)