Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

Press Release

U.S. Attorney Gorman welcomes MMIP AUSA and MMIP coordinator to the Northwest Region to lead MMIP efforts

Seattle - The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges such as the fentanyl crisis in Tribal communities.

"There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis."

"As I meet with each of our 25 Tribes, safety in our indigenous communities is always top of mind. At every visit we hear how fentanyl is impacting tribal communities and the need to prosecute outsiders dealing drugs that put tribal members at risk," said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. "We are working to stop the flow of fentanyl and are working to build the law enforcement relationships that are critical if a tribal member goes missing. This outreach to our sovereign tribal partners is one of the most critical and rewarding parts of my job as U.S. Attorney."

Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases

Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions.

In the Northwest Region, Cedar Wilkie Gillette will serve as the MMIP coordinator working out of the District of Oregon. Wilkie Gillette is expanding her work from Oregon to the Northwest region. Wilkie Gillette will gather reliable data to identify MMIP cases connected to Northwest tribes; conduct outreach with tribal communities to assist in the creation and implementation of community action plans; coordinate with tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement in the development of protocols and procedures for responding to and addressing MMIP cases; and promote improved data collection and analyses throughout the Northwest.

Adding to the Northwest MMIP team, Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse was sworn in May 2, 2024, as the MMIP AUSA to lead regional efforts in addressing MMIP. Western Washington Tribal Liaisons J. Tate London and Michael Harder attended the ceremony on the Yakama Nation. AUSA Black Horse will work out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Yakima.

The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General's July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys' offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department's promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department's Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.

Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country

As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities-including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking-can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons.

Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate.

Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. In the Western District of Washington federal, tribal, and state law enforcement worked together to arrest and prosecute drug dealers impacting tribal communities:

A Monroe man dealing heroin and fentanyl; A Bellingham man dealing fentanyl while armed; and a Maple Falls man was sentenced to six years in prison.

Accessing Department of Justice Resources

Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.

For additional information about the Department of Justice's efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.

Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.

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Updated May 3, 2024