Daniella Hakim

Durante Blais-Billie offers participants a moment of silence for MMIR. (Photo by Daniella Hakim) In remembrance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), Durante Blais-Billie and Dr. Tomasina Chupco led the second annual walk of prayer for justice, unity, and remembrance. Every first week of May, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Week of Action is a sacred call to honor MMIW, girls, and two-spirit (LGBTQI+ identifying) relatives by uplifting their names, stories, and spirits.

Thomas Gallaher’s recently published historical fiction novel has been a six-year labor of love. Upon crossing paths with the Seminoles in 1981, Gallaher was certain he would write a book on the venturous tribe’s history. It wasn’t until 2020 that the author set out on relaying a story unknown to many. “Way back then, I knew one day I would write a book about the Seminoles, to try to tell the world about their unbelievable history,” said Gallaher.