On Monday, February 3, 2026, Governor Mark Gordon, along with representatives from the Wyoming Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force and the Northern Arapaho Tribe, came together to read and sign proclamations for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and to address and counsel the students and youth who filled the seats at CWC's Robert A. Peck Auditorium in Riverton.
“I want you to remember the people who support you. Your parents, your classmates, your grandparents, whoever…there is always somebody praying for you and asking for good things for you. So, remember that, pass that on. Take care of one another and help each other out. Also, pray for others in the spirit of reciprocity. Give back what you have.”
- Ivan Posey, House Representative District 33
“We Arapaho people are taught respect and love. Teen dating violence doesn’t always mean hitting. It can be control, jealousy, constantly texting, constantly Face Timing. Love shouldn’t hurt. You should be protecting your heart, not hurting it…”
“I want everybody to know that there is help if you are in an unhealthy relationship, there is help. You can reach out to a teacher, a parent, a counselor, a coach. And if you were in an unhealthy relationship and you left, I want you to know how brave you were and how courageous you are…we’re stronger as a community if we work together.”
- Sami Dresser, Northern Arapaho Business Council
“I’m glad you’re all here, our young and future leaders. Teenage violence is a thing; it’s been happening for a long time. We got together, and we wanted to start this campaign to let you know that there is help out there…I want you to have healthy living, healthy relationships. We have intergenerational problems, and we want to break the cycle. We want to be healthy, happy, and be well, have that love and respect for one another, and help each other out…I want you to have those healthy relationships with one another and with your teachers, your parents, your grandparents. So I’m glad you’re all here. It’s always an honor to represent our youth.”
- NABC Chairperson Keenan Groesbeck
“Male victims are less likely to report abuse in a relationship. One in three teen boys experiences dating violence. Four…four...out of five women will experience violence in their lifetime. These are not good data points. These are things that the citizens of Wyoming and the two amazing tribal Nations that are here want to change. And it starts with you. So it is my honor to read this Proclamation, and hopefully the spirit of it will be as strong and pungent as the spirit of the cedar.”
- Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
After the prayer, cedaring, and declaration readings and signings...keynote speaker, storyteller, and "movement maker" Tai Simpson spoke dynamically and interactively with the students about teen dating and domestic violence and its connection to MMIP. (I was privileged and honored to briefly meet with Ms. Simpson afterwards.)
Representatives from Wind River Cares Tribal Victim Services and UprisingWyo
were present to hand out materials and swag to the students,
and to answer any questions.
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