Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Conference
Payne and Elizabeth Ornelas, MA Psych, CADC-I, CA, recently attended the Fourth Annual Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Conference hosted by a powerful thought-provoking event in Elko, Nevada. Hosted by the Newe Waipaipian. There was a focus on community healing and support. As presenters, Payne and Ornelas led a session titled "Caring through Chaos: Building Resilience in Trauma-Focused Work," where they shared insights, tools, and strategies for navigating the emotional toll of working with survivors of trauma. Their presentation emphasized the importance of self-awareness, cultural humility, and sustainable self-care practices for professionals in helping roles. Attendees engaged in meaningful dialogue and left with practical approaches for strengthening resilience in both personal and professional spheres.
In addition to their presentation, Payne and Ornelas actively participated in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force session. During this impactful discussion, they posed the community-centered question: “How do you define Missing and Murdered Indigenous People?”— prompting participants to reflect on the systemic, historical, and emotional dimensions of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. The session created space for voices from Indigenous communities to share their perspectives and underscored the need for ongoing advocacy, accountability, and culturally rooted solutions. Overall, the event fostered solidarity, awareness, and a renewed commitment to justice and healing.
