"Lighting The Way For Those Not Here": How Can Technology Researchers Help Resist the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Crisis?

Indigenous communities on Turtle Island experience disproportionate rates of disappearance and murder, a crisis termed Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), stemming from historical settler-colonial violence and systemic issues. Technology presents a dual nature in this context: it can contribute to systemic violence and hinder investigations, but also serves as a vital tool for advocacy, healing, and resistance through various digital platforms and crowdsourced initiatives. Current Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research has not adequately explored technology's role in this crisis, indicating a significant gap in academic understanding and potential for technological intervention.

This research highlights a critical social and humanitarian crisis affecting Indigenous populations, where technology plays a complex and often overlooked role. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for developing ethical and effective technological interventions that support vulnerable communities, rather than exacerbating existing systemic issues. Addressing this gap can inform broader strategies for leveraging technology for social justice and community empowerment.

Indigenous populations face disproportionately high rates of disappearance and murder, identified as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) crisis.

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.