OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 5, 2023 marks National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, a somber reminder of the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) in Oklahoma.
The crisis of MMIP has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities. In response, the Justice Department has marshalled the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis.
The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-government effort that takes many forms.
One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission, a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission—to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives.
In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings, which will continue through the summer.
The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis, said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.
Crime in Indian Country, particularly when it involves violent crime, domestic violence, kidnapping, abduction, or murder, is best addressed with swift and effective action through a coordinated law enforcement response.
These cases and investigations are a priority for the Western District of Oklahoma, and we remain committed to work with our local, state, Tribal and federal law enforcement partners agencies to resolve jurisdictional complexities and coordinate efforts so that criminal offenders are held accountable, and victims receive justice.
The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime.
Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons.
Related Federal Cases
- MMIP Crisis: DOJ Boosts Efforts, Oklahoma 2024 · Michigan
- Feds Target MMIP Crisis in Michigan · Oklahoma
- Missing Indigenous Women & Children, Oklahoma 2024 · Washington
- Patrick Lamar Tims, Jr., Robbery in Indian Country, Oklahoma 2024 · Oklahoma
- Dakota Wayne Campus, Strangulation & Gun Crimes, Oklahoma 2024 · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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