ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –– The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women sends its condolences to the family of US Army MSG Cecelia B. Finona as she is being laid to rest this week. Finona went missing in May of 2019 and the search for her was endless until her body was found in Clark Country, Nevada in June of this year.

“We urge our communities to send good thoughts and strength to Cecelia’s family during this time for them and their community. The finding of Cecelia’s body reminds us of the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women across the country.  It is a crisis that has been ignored for too long and we continue to advocate for legislation at the state and national levels to address this systemic issue impacting our native communities and families.”

Murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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