Hello. My name is Alecia Onzahwah the surviving mother of Skye Griggs Jim.  I am what some might refer to as an MMIW mom as our family has been directly impacted by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. For those that aren't familiar with Skye's story, she went missing at the age of 15 and was returned to us but in a completely separate situation, she was then taken from us at the age of 30. Our family has both the experiences of a missing teen girl and now a Murdered Indigenous woman. 

I am also the creator of The Skye Woman Project: A Resource Tool for Native Homicide Victims Families and Co-Founder/Chief Executive Manager of Skye Woman Beauty (A start up makeup and self defense product line). 

I have spent the last two years advocating for justice for Skye and still am; however, I feel compelled to do what I can to reach out to Native youth in hopes of empowering them with knowledge and emphasis on the importance of safety as a means toward MMIW/P prevention.  

I have applied and been selected to be a workshop Facilitator for the 2023 National Unity Conference for Native youth ages 14-24 in Washington D.C. on July 2nd and 3rd.  

Unlike most facilitators, who's expenses are covered by the tribes or organizations they work for, I am doing this simply as a mom. The Skye Woman Project isn't a non-profit and Skye Woman Beauty is a new start up company so we don't have extra finances to cover everything. I'm doing this on a leap of faith. 

We are working to sell some of our own personal possessions to help cover my airfare. 

I have created this fundraiser to raise help raise funds to assist me with a portion of my airfare in addition to other smaller travel expenses such as cab fair, luggage fees and the audio visual equipment rental fee from the conference center for my workshops. I'm covered on my lodging.

If you would like to join me in getting important information and my message directly to potentially hundreds of Native youth, I humbly ask for your consideration in donating $5 or whatever amount that you can.  

We understand that times are hard and even if you can't donate, but would like to help, you can still join me in this mission by sharing this fundraiser with your contacts. It means just as much. 

Niyaawe, 

Alecia Onzahwah