DAL Unveils Art Display in Support of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW)

^{Installation contributors: Jennifer Buckley, Dante Biss-Grayson and Designs by Della (previously featured at The Smithsonian)} 

For decades, Native American and Alaska Native communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of women. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, American and Alaska Native rates of murder, rape and violent crime are all higher than the national averages.

In support of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) international grassroots movement, Dallas Love Field has dedicated an installation to bring awareness to the alarming rate at which Indigenous women and girls often go missing and are murdered. The exhibit, on display throughout May, features one-of-a-kind pieces from those directly impacted by this crisis.

Powerful images, courtesy of Jennifer Buckley, capture women donning MMIW’s signature red handprint over their mouths which signifies the many victims of this ongoing epidemic. Jennifer is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribes in Rocky Boy, Montana. The feature also contains meaningful poetry by Dante Biss-Grayson, a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation. His work and activism have been showcased in various exhibits across the globe, most recently at the Cannes Film Festival. Arguably the most eye-catching contribution to the installation is a custom-made red dress adorned with 32 feathers, each representing the number of missing Indigenous persons in Big Horn County, MT, during manufacturing. The dress donor Della Bighair-Stump is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke (Crow) Tribe of Montana and a member of the Whistling Water Clan & Child of the Big Lodge Clan. Della’s designs have previously been showcased at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Through spreading awareness, this campaign aims to promote actionable change for future generations. For more information on the Love Field Public Art Program, please visit: https://www.dallas-lovefield.com/passenger-services/art-program.

About Dallas Love Field

Dallas Love Field is leading the evolution of the airport experience. It served nearly 17 million passengers in 2019, the most in its history. DAL is the 2018, 2019 and 2020 recipient of the Airport Service Quality Award for North American Airports that serve 15-25 million passengers and a GBAC STAR Facility.