Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives
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Native Womens Wilderness organization recently said, “Native women, girls, and two-spirts are being taken from us in an alarming way. As of 2016, the National Crime Information Center has reported 5,712 cases of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. Strikingly, the U.S Department of Justice missing persons database has only reported 116 cases. The majority of these murders are committed by non-Native people on Native-owned land. The lack of communication combined with jurisdictional issues between state, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement, make it nearly impossible to begin the investigative process.”
This is where NILJ comes in.
In addition to our network of investigative specialists, we also have ambassadors on board within the tribal nations throughout the US who are committed to the mission of NILJ. An example of one such ambassador is Jeneda Benally, Navajo Dine’ medicine healer, spokesperson and human rights activist featured on NPR, NBC, and many other national news outlets.
Not only do we focus on solving cases, but we strive to help family members begin to heal from the trauma inflicted by the loss of a loved one. Specifically, in cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children, we honor traditions, practices and ceremonies specific to each tribal nation. We also work with traditional Indigenous sciences practitioners during and after investigations in order to help promote healing.
If you or someone you know needs help finding a missing loved one or answers related to a homicide case, please reach out to us today.
Testimonial from Betty Lyons
NILJ Advisor Betty Lyons talks (below) about NILJ founder Mark Pucci, and our mission to help find missing Indigenous relatives. Betty is President & Executive Director of the American Indian Law Alliance (AILA), is an Indigenous and environmental activist and citizen of the Onondaga Nation. Betty has worked for the Onondaga Nation for over 20 years. Ms. Lyons serves as a member of the Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee and has been an active participant at the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) since the first session in 2001 as a delegate of the Onondaga Nation. Betty attended Cazenovia College and is a Bryant Stratton College Graduate of the Paralegal Program.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES + ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thanks to Native Womens Wilderness’ awareness campaign, more and more attention is being given to missing and murdered Indigenous women and children. Please watch this powerful video produced by Native Womens Wilderness…
BIA Launches New Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person’s Website Dedicated to Solving Cases
BY NATIVE NEWS ONLINE STAFF
DECEMBER 11, 2021
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) announced on Friday the launch of its new website dedicated to solving missing and murdered cases in Indian Country.
The website seeks to draw attention to unresolved missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases the BIA, Office of Justice Services, Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) is working on and invites the public to help law enforcement solve those cases.
Friday’s announcement came as Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community) participated in a panel on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Crisis at the Western Governors Association Winter Meeting at the Lowes Coronado Bay Resort, in Coronado, Calif.
“The Missing and Murdered Indigenous peoples’ crisis has plagued Indian Country for too long, with cases often going unsolved and unaddressed,” Newland said. “This new website represents a new tool in the effort to keep communities safe and provide closure for families.”
The new site provides detailed case information that can be easily shared, and three pathways to submit important tips and other case information that may help investigators with the detection or investigation of an offense committed in Indian Country.
Additionally, an important feature of the site is its connectivity to the National Missing and Unidentified Person’s System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Indian Country Case website, which aims to enhance the Missing and Murdered Unit’s ability to connect cases that involve American Indian and Alaska Native people.
The new website is in addition to the work the Biden administration has undertaken under Interior Deb Haaland’s leadership to address the missing and murdered Indigenous person’s crisis. Within the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Haaland created the MMU to pursue justice for missing or murdered Indigenous people.
For more information, please visit the BIA’s new missing and murdered cases website.