MARQUETTE — Two Northern Michigan University entities are holding a virtual Walk for Justice throughout the month of May to raise awareness of what has been called “the silent epidemic” of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

The NMU Social Work Department’s Walking the Path Together program, along with the Center for Native American Studies, invites participants to log and share their miles on Facebook to be eligible to win prizes. Other activities include an art competition and T-shirt sales to support a local chapter of MMIW.

The month-long event included the May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was designated through a congressional resolution.

Statistics show that Indigenous women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than the national average, and homicide is one of the leading causes of death for young Indigenous women.

For more information, visit the Walking the Path Together Facebook page. Register for the Walk for Justice or order a T-shirt at https://bit.ly/3updd8u.