Sisters Trisha Rivers and Jessica Lopez-Walker didn’t grow up together, but now they stand side by side and strive to make a positive change in their community. Separated as children, the sisters had few opportunities to connect with their family and truly celebrate their Native American heritage. When they met later in life, they set out to contact their indigenous tribes. The sisters also uncovered a dark part of their family history. Her aunt, Paulette “Paulie” Walker, left home in 1984 for the West Coast, never to be heard from again. Trisha and Jessica later discovered that she had been murdered. When her body was found, no one claimed her, even though Paulette was married. Jessica set out to find the place where Paulette was buried. Searching through social media pages and missing persons websites, she eventually managed to locate the body in California. Paulette’s case has spiraled out of control. Jessica says the process was grueling. “I had to file a missing person report and couldn’t get help from any department,” she said. “People have also really judged the fact that I’m trying to do this right now… I think when you’re sitting there trying to find your loved one, people should have more compassion.” The family is in the process of bringing Paulette home and to bury her immediate family. The United States Department of the Interior recognizes that Indigenous people experience violence, sexual assault, and murder at higher rates than the national average. Approximately 2.9 million AI/AN people are victims of violence – that’s almost every person in Iowa. Having experienced the epidemic firsthand, the sisters have made it their mission to find other missing or murdered indigenous people. They often act as a point of contact for other families and lead discussions about setting up a task force. “I think just because of the situation that I went through trying to find her, let’s speak out because if we don’t, no one else will. Nobody else will stand up for us. So we do it. “We take our voice and make sure we are heard,” Jessica said. Trisha and Jessica remain focused on increasing Native representation in Sioux City. Both hold positions on Sioux City boards and committees and hope to eventually hold seats on the city council and school boards. “It’s the hope that we’ll see better days and see solutions to our own epidemic that’s happening right now that we’re really addressing.” “There’s room to demand better treatment for our native communities,” Trisha said.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa –
Sisters Trisha Rivers and Jessica Lopez-Walker didn’t grow up together, but now they stand side by side and strive to make a positive change in their community.
Separated as children, the sisters had few opportunities to connect with their family and truly celebrate their Native American heritage. When they met later in life, they set out to contact their indigenous tribes. The sisters also uncovered a dark part of their family history.
Her aunt, Paulette “Paulie” Walker, left home in 1984 for the West Coast, never to be heard from again. Trisha and Jessica later discovered that she had been murdered. When her body was found, no one claimed her, even though Paulette was married.
Jessica went to find the place where Paulette is buried. Searching through social media pages and missing persons websites, she eventually managed to locate the body in California. Paulette’s case has spiraled out of control.
Jessica says the process was stressful.
“I had to file a missing person report and couldn’t get help from any department,” she said. “People have also really judged the fact that I’m trying to do this right now… I think when you’re sitting there trying to find your loved one, people should have more compassion.”
The family is in the process of bringing Paulette home and burying her close relatives.
The United States Department of the Interior recognizes that Indigenous people experience violence, sexual assault, and murder at higher rates than the national average. Approximately 2.9 million AI/AN people are victims of violence – that’s almost every person in Iowa.
Having experienced the epidemic firsthand, the sisters have made it their mission to find other missing or murdered indigenous people. They often act as a point of contact for other families and lead discussions about setting up a task force.
“I think just because of the situation that I went through trying to find her, let’s speak out because if we don’t, no one else will. Nobody else will stand up for us. So we do it. We “take our voice and make sure we are heard,” Jessica said.
Trisha and Jessica remain focused on increasing Native representation in Sioux City. Both hold positions on Sioux City boards and committees and hope to eventually hold spots on the city council and school boards.
“We hope to see better days and find solutions to our own epidemic and really create space to demand better treatment for our native communities,” Trisha said.
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