Missing Native American Women

[imstilla.grandma]

Dear Governor Dunleavy,

We are reaching out about an important issue that has been ignored for far too long that needs your strong leadership and partnership as part of a collective approach to protect our Alaska Native women and girls.

Alaska continues to face some of the highest rates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in the Nation. In a recent study by the Urban Indian Health Institute, Alaska ranks fourth in the Nation for the highest number of cases of MMIWG, and Anchorage listed as the third highest number of MMIWG cases across the 71 cities included in the study.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women and that rates of violence on reservations and rural areas can be up to ten times higher than the national average.

The State and law enforcement on all levels continually fail to protect our Indigenous women. Tragedies continue to be inflicted on our people, including most recently the horrific murders of Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk, two beautiful souls who were taken from us too soon and in a manner no individual should have to endure. Enough is enough. More work must be done to protect Indigenous women and girls.
More at link:
More work must be done to protect Indigenous women and girls - The Delta Discovery, Inc.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

This is not an issue that's just happening in the Inland Northwest, it's nationwide. According to a report done in 2018 by the Urban Indian Health Institute, Washington State has the second highest number of missing and murdered indigenous women cases. Seattle was listed number one with the most cases, out of 71 cities surveyed.

Tribe members say this is an epidemic. American Indian women face murder rates that are ten times the national average, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

To some of us, red is just a color, but to Native Americans, it means something more.

"We wear red to symbolize our lost and stolen sisters," said Margo Hill, a member of the Spokane Tribe. She also served as the tribe's attorney for more than a decade.
Native American tribes seeing many cases of murdered, missing indigenous women

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A report released last year by the Urban Indian Health Institute said there were 5,712 cases of missing and murdered indigenous girls in 2016, but only 116 of those cases were logged in a Justice Department database. The National Institute of Justice estimates that 1.5 million Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and more than 50 percent of Native American women experienced sexual violence.

Eighty-four percent of Native women experience violence in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Justice. A 2008 study found that women in some tribal communities are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average. A November report by the Urban Indian Health Institute also found that there have been 506 cases of missing and murdered Native women and girls in 71 cities across the U.S. since 2010. However, this data is almost certainly an undercount -- UIHI identified that 153 cases did not exist in law enforcement records.

This initiative comes as members of Congress attempt to address the issue with bipartisan legislation. A bipartisan group of senators is sponsoring Savanna's Act, which would increase coordination between federal and tribal agencies, improving tribal access to law enforcement databases and mandating that the attorney general and Interior secretary consult with tribes on how to further develop these databases.

The bill also requires the Justice Department to create standardized guidelines for responding to cases of missing and murdered Native women, and would mandate that statistics on missing and murdered Native women are sent to Congress in a report each year.

The bill was approved in the Indian Affairs Committee this week and now goes to the Senate floor for a full vote.
William Barr to announce plan addressing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Federal prosecutors in Oklahoma City say a jury found 55-year-old Tommy Dean Bullcoming of Hammon, Oklahoma, guilty of first-degree felony murder, carjacking, kidnapping and arson. Prosecutors say Bullcoming carjacked and kidnapped Linda “Lindy” Zotigh on Sept. 6, 2017, then stabbed her to death and set fire to the woman’s home. He faces a mandatory life prison term when a judge formally sentences him in about three months.

CREDIT CHEYENNE TRIBE
Federal Jury Convicts Man For Murder on Tribal Land

 

[jaejae]

Here is a report about measures to help to reduce violence against native women:

Trump order creates task force on missing American Indians - KVIA

Here is another report on this subject:

Trump issues order to create taskforce on violence against indigenous women

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Here is a report about measures to help to reduce violence against native women:

Trump order creates task force on missing American Indians - KVIA

Thanks. From your link:

Fond du Lac Chairman Kevin DuPuis highlighted women as caretakers of children and tribal villages and said it’s imperative that they be protected and not treated as second-class citizens.

The National Institute of Justice estimates that 1.5 million American Indian women have experienced violence in their lifetime, including many who are victims of sexual violence. On some reservations, federal studies have shown women are killed at a rate over 10 times the national average.

The executive order also directs the Justice Department to make grant funding available to improve public safety in tribal communities.

 

[jaejae]

Here is a report about measures to help to reduce violence against native women:

Trump order creates task force on missing American Indians - KVIA

Here is another report on this subject:

Trump issues order to create taskforce on violence against indigenous women

Here is another report on the developments also mentioned in the ones above:

Executive Order on Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives | The White House


Another report:

Trump Acts to Curb Violence Against Native Americans, Reopen Cold Cases

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday creating a White House task force on missing and slain American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The task force will be overseen by Attorney General William Barr and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. It will develop protocols to apply to new and unsolved case and create a multi-jurisdictional team to review cold cases.

Trump called the scourge facing American Indian women and girls "sobering and heartbreaking."
New task force will address epidemic of missing American Indians and Alaska Natives

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Research by the U.S. National Institute has found more than four out of five American Indian and Alaska Native women — more than 1.5 million women —have experienced violence in their lifetime.

More than 5,700 American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls were reported missing in 2016, according to the National Crime Information Center, a government data agency.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappen...-some-indigenous-advocates-are-wary-1.5376812

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The historic resource division communicated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which is one of three federally recognized Seminole entities, along with Nation of Oklahoma and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

The division is making sure that the remains were recovered scientifically, treated respectfully and documented appropriately. It should be noted that Carr's firm, the Archaeological Historical Conservancy in Davie held these newly found human remains and once the utility work gets over they will be reinterred near where the bones were found.

Archaeological site

Native Americans Pixabay
As mentioned at least 25 sites in the town which are documented as archaeologically significant and such skeletons were found on about 10 of those. "We are finding evidence of indigenous of people, Native Americans, living here, going back at least 2,500 years," Carr said adding that "The island was intensely used. At any given time there were certainly hundreds, maybe 1000 or 2000 people. It's probably one of the richest areas in Southeast Florida for fishing and hunting."
Human remains of early Native Americans discovered at historic Florida property

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Native American communities now have access to resources to help better protect their children through an upgrade in the AMBER Alert System.

Through a Department Of Justice program, this upgrade will cater to Native American tribes and villages.

They will receive grant funding to create communication plans when they use an AMBER Alert, as well as training and technical assistance.

For Indian country, this will be of huge benefit.

People in those communities are at a higher risk of violence being committed against them, as well as a high number of women who have been murdered and children who have gone missing.
AMBER Alert System upgrade caters to Native Americans

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Ending Violence Against Native Women | Indian Law Resource Center

Indian Law Resource Center | Indian Law Resource Center

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I’d feel selfish if I didn’t take this opportunity to share this magnificent video masterpiece.

 

[jaejae]

Here is another recent report about missing indigenous women:

Lois Roberts's family wonders if things would have been different if she was white

I have noticed the report is about Aboriginal women in Australia but I will leave it posted as it mentions the recent initiatives in the US.

 

[Filly]

Please know I'm sorry if I'm derailing this important thread.

There's a woman Rachel Lorraine Norris who had her apartment burned. Nothing left. Zilch. This is in Yakima. Not staying with family and has not been heard from since November 14th. No show for work?

Note there was an argument with a boyfriend, but JMO this is way too close to how some of these strong, proud, wonderful women just vanished.

 

[jaejae]

Here is a report about crimes against Native or Indigenous women in Idaho:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...ng-murdered-indigenous-women-in-idaho-unknown

 

[dave]

It's happening in Montana and Washington state at an alarming rate. They just found a native woman recently here. Very sad...

I live in Billings, MT not far from the Crow and Northern Cheyenne and we have a large Native population in town as well. There are at least 10 missing Native women/girls just since September in my area.

This is a crisis that too few people know about or acknowledge.