(Riverton, WY) – Dozens of community members gathered at the Central Wyoming College Intertribal Education and Community Center Saturday night for the first annual MMIR 307 Run/Walk & Vigil.
A prayer was led by Shay Jimerson, and speeches were given by Ivan Posey and Marlin Spoonhunter at the event designed to make community and support for those on the Wind River Reservation who have been affected by violence.
Nicole Wagon, organizer and activist for MMIR 307, talked about the power of community rallying around those affected with grief.
“They played a flag song and a healing song at the start of the ceremony,” said Wagon. “The healing song is for our relatives who are always in our thoughts and prayers… Shoot, it was so powerful, because he (Spoonhunter) prayed in our native tongue and then translated.”
Families affected by violence travelled from as far as Casper and Colorado to remember and celebrate Saturday night. The event was also attended by Riverton City councilwoman Rebecca Pierson-Lewis and her family. “I was so impressed with the city council member Rebecca Pierson-Lewis, who showed up with her family,” said Wagon. “That meant a lot to me.”
h/t Nicol Wagon, MMIR 307
By creating events like this one, Wagon, who lost her daughters Jocelyn and Jade to violence in 2019 and 2020, aims to make a community for relatives of those, who like her, have been affected by violence. Other mothers who lost children also spoke at the vigil.
“Looking at the mothers that were speaking – I could feel their anger and their sorrow,” said Wagon. “There is a lot of grief, but we need to celebrate their lives too… Just know that I’m honoring my daughters by doing this.”
Runners took off on the mile run around CWC’s campus and they were followed by walkers with banners and flags remembering lost relatives with chants for the entire mile.
Wagon shared a statement of thanks after the event: “MMIR 307 would like to extend heartfelt thanks to LPR TEAM’s Cari Schieno for providing the ‘Missing & Murdered Indigenous People’ Hand Prints, allowing families to honor their loved ones by writing their names at the first annual walk/run/vigil event today! Let us say their names and stand together for families.
MMIR 307 is deeply thankful for the invaluable support of Wind River Family & Community Health Care CEO, Mr. Richard Brannan, whose generous donation of T-shirts for a solidarity walk, run, and candlelight vigil has helped amplify awareness about Missing, Murdered, and Indigenous Relatives.
His unwavering dedication to enhancing the well-being of our indigenous communities serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change, inspiring hope and empowerment for elders, youth, and future generations.
This impactful event, held at the CWC Intertribal Community Center, brought us together in unity to honor memories, celebrate lives, and advocate for justice, healing, and a brighter future.
MMIR 307 proudly acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Eastern Shoshone Tribal Member, Mr. Ivan Posey, an honored military native veteran of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, serving as The Tribal Education Coordinator at Central Wyoming College, and Mr. Al Hubbard (not pictured), Northern Arapaho Tribal Member, for their invaluable support and coordination of the MISSING, MURDERED & INDIGENOUS MILE RUN/WALK on October 11, 2025, at 5PM, at the CWC Intertribal Community Center, culminating in a poignant CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. The community extends its gratitude for providing a safe and healing environment to honor the missing and murdered indigenous relatives of Wyoming.
We’d also like to thank our sponsors Foundations for Nations and White Buffalo Recovery.”
h/t Nicole Wagon, MMIR 307
Click here to learn more about Together For Families
Also visit MMIR 307’s Facebook page for up-to-date news on scheduled events and community