Emily Pike’s tragic passing has ignited a wave of grief and anger, drawing attention to a long-standing crisis within Native American communities, where numerous individuals have either gone missing or been killed. Pike, a San Carlos Apache teenager, vanished from a group home in a suburb of Phoenix in late January.
After her disappearance, authorities circulated her photo on social media, suggesting she might have run away. Nearly a month later, Pike’s remains were discovered by sheriff’s deputies in a neighboring county, over 80 miles (129 kilometers) from where she was last seen.
The shocking news of her death has deeply affected Indian Country and beyond. On Thursday, a crowd gathered at a Mesa intersection near Pike’s group home to commemorate her life and advocate for changes to reduce such violence.
The vigil attracted dozens of individuals from different tribal nations, all clad in red. They embraced, shielded candle flames from the wind, and held placards reading “No more stolen sisters” and “Justice for Emily Pike.”
A Trio Torn Apart
Pike’s cousins, who were close to her in age, reminisced about a girl who was funny, kind, and loved animals, K-pop, and Roblox. Jadyn Palmer, 15, shared that she and Tyraya Steele, another cousin of the same age, grew up with Pike on the San Carlos Apache reservation. The three were inseparable, Palmer noted.
Palmer recalled the last time Pike called her, just weeks before she disappeared. Pike mentioned she would return to the reservation soon, and they excitedly talked about future shopping plans.
“We’re not going to have a trio anymore,” Palmer told The Associated Press, her voice breaking as Steele stood by her side.
As part of the vigil, Tony Dunkin and his 12-year-old daughter performed a jingle dance, a traditional dance associated with healing. Dunkin’s father spoke in Apache before the dance and sang a lullaby.
Mary Kim Titla, a San Carlos Apache Tribe member, attended the vigil wearing pink, Pike’s favorite color, and shared that Pike aspired to be a veterinarian.
“These tears that are shed are a part of a healing process,” Titla remarked.
Titla has experienced similar tragedies, with three female relatives having gone missing and been killed. The community’s unity in honoring Pike reflects a collective call for justice and healing from both historical and generational trauma.
“It affects so many people,” Titla said, “and I think the reason is because we all know someone.”
Advocates argue the crisis is rooted in colonization and forced relocation, which eroded Indigenous culture and identity. Compounding the issue are limited resources, insufficient law enforcement, and jurisdictional complexities that hinder collaboration among authorities.
‘Everyone’s Daughter’
Pike’s story has resonated on social media, with many sharing photos of themselves with a red handprint over their mouths, symbolizing the movement to end violence against Indigenous women. Posts include hashtags like #NoMoreStolenSisters, #SayHerName, and #JusticeforEmily.
In Wisconsin, organizers have planned a candlelight vigil. Colorado fliers urge people to wear red, and Daisy Bluestar, a Southern Ute tribal member, posted a video about Pike.
In Arizona, the Miami High School girls’ basketball team wore jerseys emblazoned with “MMIW” and a red handprint.
“We’re all mourning this terrible loss of a precious young girl. Emily really has become everyone’s daughter, granddaughter, and niece,” Titla expressed.
What Happened to Emily?
According to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Pike’s remains were located northeast of Globe, Arizona.
Her case, like many others, involves several agencies. Gila County is collaborating with Mesa police, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the FBI.
Though Mesa police do not typically handle runaway reports, the agency listed Pike as missing on Facebook two days after the group home reported her absence.
Under Arizona Department of Child Safety guidelines, a child’s missing status must be reported within 24 hours of receiving the information. However, this requirement does not extend to tribal social services, as noted by Anika Robinson, president of the nonprofit ASA Now. Pike was under the San Carlos Apache Tribe Social Services’ care at the time of her disappearance from the group home in Mesa.
Mesa police logged Pike as missing with the National Crime Information Center on the evening of January 27. They have indicated it was the group home’s responsibility to notify her case manager, who would then contact Pike’s family or tribe.
Pike’s mother, Steff Dosela, has stated in interviews that she was not informed of her daughter’s disappearance until a week later.
Robinson questioned the delay, asking, “Imagine what probably had already transpired by that week.”
Addressing the Crisis
In 2023, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs established a task force to develop policies addressing the high incidence of disappearances and killings among Native Americans. A final report is expected in 2026.
Similar task forces exist in Washington, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
During his first term, President Donald Trump launched the nation’s first task force to address these issues, naming it Operation Lady Liberty. The Biden administration followed up with a specialized unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. attorneys’ offices in key regions began focusing on unsolved cases, holding listening sessions nationwide. Recently, the federal government introduced an initiative to help resolve missing and unidentified person cases.
Tiffany Jiron, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, emphasized the need for more comprehensive law enforcement training, increased funding for tribal programs offering shelter, mental health services, and legal support, and enhanced alert systems as key advocacy goals.
“As an Indigenous people, we are not invisible,” she asserted. “We deserve just as much attention from law enforcement. Our cases involve real people, real families, real children.”
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