Stolen Sisters is a photo series dedicated to raising awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). While the individuals photographed in this series are safe, every person pictured is deeply affected by this ongoing epidemic.
The MMIWG2S movement emerged through decades of advocacy by Indigenous families, survivors, and community leaders seeking justice for the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people across the United States and Canada. In recent years, Indigenous advocates have also drawn attention to the relationship between some large extractive industry projects and nearby temporary workforce housing, often called "man camps." Research has found associations between these developments and increased risks of violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking in some surrounding communities. While the causes of the MMIWG2S crisis are complex and rooted in a long history of colonialism, jurisdictional gaps, and systemic inequities, Indigenous organizations have identified these industrial developments as one of several factors that can heighten vulnerability in affected regions.