In Phoenix, a tragic and heartbreaking event has thrown a spotlight on the ongoing crisis affecting Native American communities, who have long faced disproportionate rates of murder and disappearances. The devastating case revolves around Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache teenager, whose disappearance and subsequent death have stirred widespread emotions and calls for action.
Emily vanished from her group home in the Phoenix suburb at the end of January. Initially, authorities shared her photograph on social media, indicating she might have run away. Nearly a month later, Pikeโs remains were discovered by sheriffโs deputies from a neighboring county, more than 80 miles from her last known location.
The shocking news of Pikeโs brutal death resonated deeply across Indian Country and beyond. On Thursday, a gathering took place at an intersection in Mesa, close to her group home, where her life was commemorated, and calls for reform to combat violence were made loud and clear.
The vigil drew a diverse crowd from various tribal nations, many dressed in red as a sign of solidarity. Participants huddled together, shielding candle flames against the wind, while holding posters with messages such as โNo more stolen sistersโ and โJustice for Emily Pike.โ A large inflatable projector displayed the vigilโs program.
Among those present were four of Pikeโs cousins, who shared fond memories of her as a cheerful, animal-loving individual with an affinity for K-pop and Roblox. Jadyn Palmer, a 15-year-old cousin, recalled how she and another cousin, Tyraya Steele, grew up with Pike on the San Carlos Apache reservation. The three were nearly inseparable, often sharing laughs and planning shopping trips upon Pikeโs intended return to the reservation.
Palmer expressed her heartbreak, stating, โWeโre not going to have a trio anymore,โ as her voice trembled with emotion, Steele supporting her in silence.
The vigil featured a jingle dance performed by Tony Duncan and his 12-year-old daughter, symbolizing healing. Duncanโs father spoke in the Apache language before the performance, followed by a lullaby.
Mary Kim Titla, a San Carlos Apache Tribe member, chose to wear pinkโPikeโs favorite colorโand highlighted the teenโs aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. She emphasized the tears as part of the healing process, adding that her community is rallying together to demand justice in Pikeโs honor.
Titla, with personal experiences of loss due to missing and murdered female relatives, reiterated that the collective grief and advocacy stem from a shared history of trauma. โIt affects so many people, and I think the reason is because we all know someone,โ Titla said.
The ongoing crisis, advocates argue, is deeply rooted in historical injustices like colonization and forced removals that have oppressed Indigenous communities by stripping them of their culture and identity. Challenges such as limited resources, understaffed law enforcement, and complex jurisdictional issues have only compounded these problems.
Pikeโs case caught widespread attention on social media, where individuals showcased their support with selfies, their mouths marked by a symbolic red handprint, as part of the movement to end violence against Native women. The hashtags #NoMoreStolenSisters, #SayHerName, and #JusticeforEmily spread alongside photos and messages of solidarity.
In Wisconsin, organizers prepared for a similar candlelight vigil, while in Colorado, flyers urged everyone to don red in support. Daisy Bluestar, a Southern Ute tribal member involved in addressing Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives in Colorado, highlighted Pikeโs case in a poignant video.
At Miami High School in Arizona, the girlโs basketball team sported jerseys marked โMMIWโ and a red handprint, signifying the collective mourning of Emily Pike, who has become symbolically significant to many as a beloved daughter, granddaughter, and niece.
The investigation into Pikeโs tragic death involves multiple agencies, including local police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the FBI, as her remains were located northeast of Globe, Arizona. The case is further complicated by previous runaway incidents, highlighting flaws in the communication and response protocols surrounding missing children cases.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety mandates prompt notification when a child is reported missing, but the requirement does not uniformly apply to tribal social services. Pike was under the San Carlos Apache Tribe Social Servicesโ custody at her disappearance time, yet her mother, Steff Dosela, was informed only a week later.
Anika Robinson, president of ASA Now, a foster care advocacy group, questioned the delay: โImagine what probably had already transpired by that week.โ
Efforts to address the endemic issues include a task force established by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in 2023, aimed at policy recommendations to tackle high disappearance and murder rates within Native American communities, with a report due in 2026. Similar initiatives exist in states like Washington and New Mexico. Nationally, under previous and current administrations, efforts have included special task forces and listening sessions to address these ongoing challenges.
Tiffany Jiron, from the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, champions for comprehensive law enforcement training, better resources for impacted families, and robust alert systems as vital steps forward. Jiron asserted, โAs an Indigenous people, we are not invisible. We deserve just as much attention from law enforcement. Our cases involve real people, real families, real children.โ