North Austin News

The upcoming events at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in partnership with Red Sand Project are set to shed light on the nationwide crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW/R).

On Saturday, March 9 at 4:30 p.m., the team behind We Ride For Her has organized a Red Dress Exhibition at the Carver Museum. The exhibition will feature empty red dresses hanging through the lobby as a visual representation of the spirits of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2Spirit individuals. This powerful display is inspired by the work of Métis artist Jaime Black.

Regarding the film's purpose, it was stated that, "We Ride For Her was conceived with the aim of inciting hope and catalyzing tangible change." The producers of the film took a trauma-informed approach to filmmaking, focusing on the agency and healing of the protagonists while incorporating rigorous informed consent processes and consultation with Indigenous trauma counselors.

The film's community ownership model ensures that those affected by the crisis play a primary role in guiding the film's direction and impact. Profits from the film will be equally shared by the filmmakers and the film's Indigenous community stakeholders, emphasizing equity and transparency. The We Ride For Her team has made legal templates based on this model publicly accessible as free resources for future projects.

Speaking about the Red Sand Project's commitment, it was highlighted that, "Red Sand Project is focused on removing the onus and responsibility of awareness-raising away from survivors of human trafficking and towards communities and allies." The project aims to tell the stories of those who have been trafficked while ensuring that the filmmaking team includes individuals with relevant lived experiences.

As the We Ride For Her team continues to amplify efforts towards addressing the MMIW/R crisis, individuals are encouraged to visit werideforher.com/reflect-respond for more information on how to get involved.

In conclusion, the events at the Carver Museum stand as a platform to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and support transformative change in response to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.