Interior and Justice Departments convened with Tribal leaders, survivors, and media to address reporting on missing or murdered Indigenous peoples and human trafficking.
The Departments of the Interior and Justice recently held a virtual roundtable with Tribal representatives, advocates, media, and survivors to address how media coverage of missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking (HT) can be improved. The discussion followed recommendations from the Not Invisible Act Commission, which was established to address violent crimes against American Indians and Alaska Natives. During the public hearings, survivors and families expressed concerns about the lack of media attention on these cases.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized that addressing the MMIP crisis is a priority, noting that telling these stories is crucial to solving the issue. This effort builds on the commitment to addressing public safety issues in Tribal communities.
“Public communication, news stories, and social media can be crucial in finding and investigating cases of missing or murdered Indigenous persons,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “It is our hope that this convening will strengthen those partnerships, which are essential to advancing our shared goal of ending this crisis.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Haaland to be led by God as she heads the effort to address the murder or trafficking of indigenous people.
- For wisdom for Attorney General Garland as he oversees the Justice Department’s contribution to investigating these cases.
Sources: Department of the Interior
