The Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People: A National Call to Action
The numbers are staggering and deeply unsettling. Over 4,200 cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) remain unsolved, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For the Navajo Nation alone, 75 people are officially missing, with the true number of murdered individuals unaccounted for due to a lack of manpower and proper infrastructure to track cases. Even more troubling, Native American women face disproportionate rates of violence. For Indigenous women ages 10 to 24, homicide is the third leading cause of death. Between the ages of 25 and 44, it is the fifth.
These statistics were central to a recent congressional hearing on MMIP held by the House Appropriations Committee, where Indigenous women leaders shared powerful testimonies.
Testimonies of Pain and Systemic Failures
On November 20, 2024, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton joined four other Indigenous women to testify about the MMIP crisis. Charles-Newton read aloud the names of missing Navajo individuals, including Paul Begay, Anne Curley, Ella Mae Begay, and Everett Charley, reminding the committee, "These are a few of the names I wanted to read aloud so they know they are not forgotten."
Her testimony revealed not just the staggering scale of the crisis but also systemic failures. “We lack the manpower to track those cases properly, and we also lack the infrastructure to record all cases,” she said. Charles-Newton spoke from personal experience, recounting her kidnapping and brutal assault at 17 years old. Despite identifying her attacker, jurisdictional confusion prevented prosecution. “Nobody wants to solve these cases,” she lamented.
This "jurisdictional maze," as Urban Indian Health Institute Director Abigail Echo-Hawk described it, enables law enforcement to avoid accountability. Echo-Hawk testified that systemic neglect stems from deeply ingrained stereotypes that dehumanize Native people, particularly women.
A Pattern of Injustice
The crisis extends beyond tribal lands. Cheryl Horn of the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force described the struggle to find help when two of her nieces went missing. “None of these jurisdictions want this case,” she said, highlighting how jurisdictional disputes often result in inaction.
This neglect mirrors broader societal and governmental failures. Maulian Bryant, incoming executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance, emphasized the long history of trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities, from land theft to forced assimilation. These historical injustices contribute to the invisibility and dehumanization of Native victims today.
Understanding the MMIP Crisis
The MMIP epidemic is a devastating intersection of violence, systemic neglect, and jurisdictional confusion. Native women, who are disproportionately affected, face unique vulnerabilities:
Violence: More than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native women are raped in their lifetime, according to the CDC.
Trafficking: Forty percent of sex trafficking victims are Indigenous women.
Homicide: Among Indigenous women ages 10 to 24, homicide is a leading cause of death.
The complexity of jurisdictional laws — involving tribal, state, and federal authorities — often allows cases to fall through the cracks. Tribal police may lack resources, while non-tribal agencies may dismiss cases or avoid responsibility, citing jurisdictional constraints.
How You Can Help
Educate Yourself and Others
Learn about the history and ongoing challenges faced by Native communities. Awareness is the first step toward change.Advocate for Policy Reform
Support legislation that addresses MMIP, such as the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with provisions for Indigenous women.Support Indigenous-Led Organizations
Donate to or volunteer with groups like the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center and Urban Indian Health Institute, which work to combat MMIP and support survivors.Amplify Indigenous Voices
Share stories and testimonies to help combat the invisibility of Native issues.Demand Accountability
Call on elected officials to prioritize funding and policy changes that support tribal law enforcement and close jurisdictional loopholes.
A Call for Justice
The stories shared during the congressional hearing reflect not only a crisis but also a deep call for justice. As Delegate Charles-Newton said, “It’s so much more than laws and jurisdiction. It’s where we’ve been placed in society. We love this place, and we need it to love us back.”
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People is not just a tribal issue — it is a national one. Addressing it requires systemic change, accountability, and unwavering commitment to honoring the lives of those who are too often forgotten.
Sources:
House Appropriations Committee Oversight Hearing, Nov. 20, 2024
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Testimonies from Urban Indian Health Institute and Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton
image courtesy of https://www.hhs.gov/