Community comes together to honor Aubrey Dameron

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) On February 6, the Facebook page “Missing-Aubrey Dameron from Grove, Oklahoma” changed its name to “Remembering Aubrey Dameron from Grove, Oklahoma”, a digital signal affirming the tragic news Quapaw Marshals released the day before: the beloved Two Spirit woman’s remains had been found. 

A post accompanied the change, expressing gratitude to everyone who had contributed to the search for Dameron and who had shared her story with love and compassion, and without judgment.

“Many people who never had the chance to meet Aubrey have come to love her like family, a testament to the profound impact she had on those around her,” the post reads. “Aubrey's love for people, life, and her selfless prayers for those who wronged her will never be forgotten.” 

Dameron left her home in Grove on foot to meet someone nearly six years ago. Just 25 years old, she was never heard from again. 

“Aubrey, who was extremely proud of her Cherokee culture, had a bright future and her young life was cut too short,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in part in a statement. “Our Marshals led many searches for her, erected billboards to help find her and helped raise awareness on her case, and that of many others over these past few years.” 

But it was the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service that ultimately recovered Dameron’s remains on January 31, following a call received from rural Ottawa County.

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the remains were Dameron’s on February 5. The investigation into her death is now being led by the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service Investigative Division in collaboration with Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Numerous events have been held to honor Dameron since she was found, including a vigil in Oklahoma City on Saturday. A GoFundMe was also created by Dameron’s aunt Pam Smith to help with funeral services. 

“Aubrey's disappearance was surrounded by suspicious circumstances, but tragically, her case was not immediately taken seriously, in part because she was a Two Spirit, trans Indigenous Cherokee woman,” Smith posted on the page. “With your support, we hope to ensure that Aubrey receives the services and dignity she deserves.” 

The page had received close to 100 donations at the time of this publication.

Organizations and departments are increasing their outreach to address the MMIP crisis in Oklahoma, including news organizations such as Osage News. 

Their upcoming symposium “Voices for Justices” is a new event to facilitate advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and provide answers to those who need help. Outreach for the event included resources located in Osage Nation, as well as neighboring northeast Oklahoma tribes: Kaw, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca and Tonkawa. 

Anyone with information about Dameron’s death is asked to call the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service at 918-238-3137 or Central Dispatch at 918-542-5585.