Memorial Cross Dedicated to Honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons
On a bright fall afternoon, Native leaders, law enforcement officials, community members, and families of the missing and murdered gathered in remembrance and solidarity to dedicate a large cross honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.
The cross is located at the Fairbanks Native Association Alaska Native Birch Hill Cemetery.
Set on a hilltop overlooking Fairbanks, the memorial site also includes a bench where families and friends can sit, reflect, and remember their loved ones.
At the center of the cross is a plaque that reads:
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Memorial Cross
In loving memory of our relatives who have been taken from us.
You are never forgotten, and the love we share endures forever.
The Oct. 6 ceremony opened with a prayer from the Rev. Dr. Anna Frank, followed by remarks from community leaders and partners working to address the MMIP crisis.
FNA Executive Director Melissa Charlie welcomed attendees, honored those who have been lost, and reaffirmed FNA’s ongoing commitment to MMIP work.
“Today, we honor our loved ones and renew our shared promise to seek justice, healing, and change,” Charlie said.
Brian Ridley, Chief and Chair of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, reflected on the continued work among regional organizations and tribes, to resolve the MMIP issue.
Denakkanaaga Executive Director Sharon McConnell shared that elders have long spoken about the lasting pain caused by unresolved MMIP cases.
“They are so thankful that there is now a peaceful place for family and friends to gather — a cross that acknowledges these losses and ensures the victims are not forgotten,” McConnell said.
A poignant moment came when Sharon Hildebrand, FNA Board Member and TCC Vice President, shared the story of her late mother, Freda Semaken Schrock, who was murdered in Fairbanks in 1979. Thirty years later, her remains were found by a hunter in the hills outside Fairbanks. Many saw Hildebrand’s story as echoing so many of the other stories behind the missing and murdered – the shock of the event, waiting for answers and closure, the heartache.
Law enforcement leaders joined the event, including Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee, Deputy Chief Richard Sweet, and Captain Eric Spitzer of the Alaska State Troopers. Each spoke about the collaborative partnerships among Native organizations and agencies.
Deputy Chief Sweet emphasized the human side of their mission.
“Every missing person is someone’s child, sibling, friend, or parent. No one is disposable, and no one should vanish without notice or without effort to bring them home,” he said.
Sweet and Chief Dupee pledged to continue the work “until every missing person is found.”
Captain Spitzer, commander of the Alaska State Troopers Detachment D, noted the deeper meaning of the cross.
“This memorial is not just a tribute to those we have lost, but a call to action. We must continue our efforts with relentless determination, ensuring that every case receives the attention and dedication it deserves.”
A wreath of red roses spelling out “MMIP” was then placed at the base of the cross by the Native leadership.
As the ceremony concluded, FNA Deputy Director and the event organizer, Shirley Lee observed a wind sweeping through the trees and stirring the fallen leaves.
“There is movement,” she said.
The dedication closed with Allan Hayton offering songs in Gwich’in.
The Fairbanks Native Association invites all community members to visit the MMIP Memorial Cross at FNA Alaska Native Birch Hill Cemetery to honor and remember those who are missing or have been taken too soon.