SALT LAKE CITY — The United States Justice Department recently announced new partners across the federal government — and throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities — while recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day nationally.
In recognition of the day of remembrance, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle missing persons and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like 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,” Garland said. “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.”
Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons 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.
“The tireless work by prosecutors and law enforcement in the last 12 months of prosecuting three individuals involved in homicides in tribal communities in the District of Utah is proof that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing those who commit violence against Native Americans,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “The work is never done, but through prosecution, we will continue to seek justice for the victims and their families and be the voice of victims who can no longer speak.”
Last August, in the District of Utah, U.S. Attorney Trina Higgins hosted the 30th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Salt Lake City. The three day event brought over 200 professionals from the four corner states who are involved in victim services and public safety in tribal communities.
Research suggests that certain public safety challenges are 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 persons.
“The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”
Further research stated that 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.
“DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Anne Milgram. “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”
In the past 12 months, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah tried and convicted defendants in three homicides in tribal communities. In February, an Aneth man was found guilty of murdering a Navajo woman in front of her two young daughters on the Navajo Nation.
In November 2023, a Fort Duchesne man was sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment for shooting and killing a Native American man. In August 2023, a Bluff, Utah man was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of murder in the second degree of a Ute tribal member.
Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.
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