(Oneida Reservation) – The Oneida Nation Licensing Department will begin issuing a new license plate in December 2025 to help build awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis happening across North America and Canada.
According to www.indianlaw.org
- 80% of Indigenous women have been subjected to violence
- Alaska Native women assault cases occur at rates 12 times higher than the rest of the U.S.
- Some reservations report that Indigenous women are 10 times more likely to be murdered
In response to these disturbing figures, North Dakota Senator (2013-2019) Heidi Heitkamp introduced Savanna’s Act, S.227 in 2017. The act was urged forward by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and signed into law October 10, 2020. The bill established protocols for federal, state, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies to combat the human rights issue.
Like other Indigenous Nations, the Oneida license plate design will feature the symbolic MMIW red hand along with a silhouette of a woman standing in defiance to Indigenous People being silenced, oppressed, and subjected to violence. Floral designs, often associated with woodland Tribal motif, along with a phrase that has become a common rallying cry of the MMIW movement, “No More Stolen Sisters” is also included.
Oneida Licensing Administrator, Tonya Webster, states, “Our new MMIW License plate will reaffirm that Oneida stands in solidarity with the rest of Indian Country to end the MMIW crisis.” Webster also confirms that a portion of the proceeds of the MMIW plates will benefit the Waking Women Healing Institute (WWHI). WWHI was founded in December of 2020 and is a 501c3 non-profit organization led by Indigenous women and survivors, dedicated to providing culturally based healing and support services to Indigenous survivors of violence and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Persons (MMIW/P). Donations will go directly to MMIP families for healing response services, including youth affected by MMIP.
Oneida Licensing Department manages a database of approximately 3,100 enrolled Oneida registered drivers using one of six license plate styles offered by Oneida, including the Oneida Nation’s fleet of governmental organization vehicles. Oneida Licensing also administers marriage licenses, alcohol licenses, and licenses to business partners working with or providing goods and services to the Oneida Nation.
They have been in operation since 1992. The Motor Vehicle Registration Ordinance was adopted by Oneida in April of 1997. The reciprocal agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the Oneida Nation was signed November 6, 1998, and approved September 24, 1998, by the Joint Committee on Finance. The first license plate was issued in 2001. Oneida Motor Vehicle is located at 909 Packerland Drive in Green Bay.
Contact:
Ph: 920.496.5311
Email: twebster@oneidanation.org
web: Oneida-NSN.gov/resources/licensing.
