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Pierce County proclaims May as AANHPI Heritage Month and recognizes MMIWP Awareness Day
Summary
The Pierce County Council and executive adopted two proclamations May 5 recognizing May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and designating May 5 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Awareness Day, with community leaders and tribal officials urging continued funding and intergovernmental coordination.
The Pierce County Council and Executive on May 5 proclaimed May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and designated May 5 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Awareness Day.
Council member Yambe read the AANHPI proclamation into the record, noting the federal and state history of the observance and highlighting local institutions including the Asia Pacific Cultural Center and the Chinese Reconciliation Park in Tacoma. Representatives from the Asia Pacific Cultural Center thanked the county for support of the center’s new building and described its programs. "We deeply appreciate the county's support for making the Asia Pacific Cultural Center happen," said one speaker representing APCC.
At the second proclamation, the council highlighted statewide efforts to address disproportionate rates of disappearance and violence affecting Indigenous people. The MMIWP proclamation cited Washington’s task force and the Missing Indigenous Persons Alert (MIPA) system and called for cross-jurisdictional collaboration and restorative support for families.
Speakers from tribal nations and community organizations addressed the council after the MMIWP proclamation. Anna Bean, who identified herself as a Puyallup tribal member and a member of the Washington state MMIWP task force executive board, thanked the county for outreach and emphasized that proclamations should be paired with action. Muckleshoot tribal chairman Donnie Stevenson told the council the tribal community would continue pressing for investigation, prevention and accountability. "This invitation where a proclamation is entered into the record carries an important message," he said, urging sustained intergovernmental cooperation.
Council members praised local organizations and reiterated support for continued funding and partnership with tribes and community advocates. The council then took photographs with proclamation recipients and moved on to other agenda items.
