Evergreen Reporter

SEATTLE, WA – On June 28, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which will permanently place five dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five MMIP coordinators to help resolve missing and murdered Indigenous women and people cases throughout the country. This will include basing dedicated MMIP personnel in Eastern Washington. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement:

“I’m thankful the Administration is heeding the call to provide additional resources to fight the scourge of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Washington state,” said Sen. Cantwell. “These additional resources will boost tribal law enforcement efforts to prevent and respond to these troubling cases and improve public safety in Native communities. The decision to place additional Justice Department personnel in Eastern Washington dedicated to addressing this crisis is welcome news in our fight to protect and seek justice in tribal communities.”

Sen. Cantwell has been a leading voice on missing and murdered Indigenous women. On May 5, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and People (MMIWP), she sent a letter to President Biden urging him to prioritize federal funding to assist Tribes and organizations that work with Native American and Alaska Natives in the State of Washington in combatting the growing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

That same day Sen. Cantwell hosted a press conference and roundtable to increase awareness of the MMIWP crisis and to talk about ways to work with tribal communities to increase support for public safety.

In 2020, Sen. Cantwell’s Savanna’s Act was signed into law. The law helps federal, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies better respond to cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people. 

Original source can be found here.