Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. As part of national efforts to bring attention to the crisis of violence facing Indigenous people, Native Performing Arts Network is organizing readings of plays by Native American writers that address the crisis of violence facing Indigenous people in the Americas. On May 5, 2026, play readings will be held in cities and towns across the United States — including a reading presented by NPAN of a script still in development.

This is not just a crisis of violence, but a crisis of invisibility. Theaters — especially if we all come together — can make a significant impact on visibility. By joining this day of action, participating theaters will raise awareness in their communities about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, and shine a spotlight on the work of Native theater artists, activists, and groups like the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.

-Jeanette Harrison,

NPAN Creative Director

As part of this national event, Native Performing Arts Network curated a list of plays about MMIWR that are available on New Play Exchange. These plays address various aspects of the MMIWR crisis — one focuses on a family searching for a missing loved one, another is about the people left behind, another is about law enforcement.

This is hardly a comprehensive list! Native playwrights have been writing about this issue for decades. In fact, it’s the 25th anniversary of the premiere of Marie Clements’ powerful play, The Accidental and Unnatural Women, which tackles 30-year-old murders of Native women and was adapted into a film. As theater companies announce their play readings, we'll update this list.