Federal hearings on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
BILLINGS – The Not Invisible Act Commission has scheduled a public hearing in Billings, MT on July 25-26, 2023, for anyone who wishes to appear before the commission in person. In addition, the Commission has scheduled two days of virtual hearings in August and is also accepting written testimony, recommendations, and questions by email.
In October 2020, the Not Invisible Act was signed into law as the first bill in history to be introduced and passed by four U.S. congressional members enrolled in their respective federally recognized tribes. The four were led by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna) during her time in Congress.
The act was a response to the longstanding crises of missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP) and human trafficking (HT). The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are 4,200 unsolved MMIP cases. Layered jurisdiction, lack of collaboration between law enforcement bodies and systemic apathy have led to thousands of unsolved cases in Indian Country.
The purpose of the Not Invisible Act is to increase coordination in identifying and combating violent crime within Indian lands and against Indians. In a June 8, 2023, letter to Tribal leaders, Secretary Haaland said, “Only with the collective participation of all our communities will our missing, murdered, or trafficked relatives and friends no longer be invisible.”
Carmen O’Leary (Cheyenne River Lakota) of Eagle Butte SD is the Executive Director of the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains (www.nativewomenssociety.org). According to O’Leary, “It is important to our community that the people have input, whether it is by contributing a personal story, offering a possible solution to address the problem, or helping to identify gaps in the (prevention/enforcement/service) system. The actions of the (Not Invisible Act) Commission will impact resources available to address MMIP issues for a long time.”
In accordance with the Act, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary Haaland established the Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC). The Commission is a cross jurisdictional advisory committee composed of both federal and non-federal members. These include law enforcement, Tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.
Since April, the Commission has been holding field hearings in some of the communities most affected by the MMIP crisis, including Tulsa, Anchorage, Flagstaff, Minneapolis, and Albuquerque.
Secretary Haaland made the following statement when the schedule of hearings was announced in February 2023, “This work requires each of us to face our own trauma, to relive unimaginable pain, and visualize a future in which our loved ones are safe and our communities have closure. We’re here for our children, grandchildren, and relatives we have yet to meet. This work is urgently needed and requires all of us working collaboratively. I am so grateful to the Commission for the work they are doing and the lasting impact they will have.”
The Billings, MT, hearing is the final field hearing. It will be held on July 25-26, 2023, at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane, Billings MT from 9:00 – 5:00 pm MT. Those who wish to attend the hearing must register at web.cvent.com/event/aa88101b-072b-406e-be21-9d30cf62a008/summary.
Like earlier hearings, the Billings event will provide a forum for those who wish to offer testimony directly. Trauma-informed mental health support will be available onsite with optional follow-up support as needed.
In addition, the NIAC will hold virtual hearings on August 2 and 3, 2023, from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm EST. Like the field hearings, these virtual hearings aim to create a forum in which law enforcement, subject-matter experts, organizations, state and tribal task forces, advocates, survivors, families, and others may provide testimony directly to the NIAC regarding solutions to the MMIP and HT crises.
Those who wish to attend and/or comment at the August 2 virtual hearing must register at tinyurl.com/33twawtk.
Register for August 3 at tinyurl.com/5ehdwjcx
Please note there are two different Zoom links, one for each day. All attendees are required to register in advance to join the event. The Commission asks that comments be limited to 15 minutes maximum in order for the Commission to hear from everybody due to the high volume of interest in this hearing. According to the Registration page for the virtual hearings, “The Commission’s desire is to hear the stories of all who want to share.”
Those who prefer can submit written testimony, recommendations, or questions to the Not Invisible Act Commission at: NIAC@ios.doi.gov. Include the following in the subject line: “NIAC Testimony” or “NIAC Question.”
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized, “The Justice Department is steadfast in our pledge to work with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities. And we are committed to listening and being responsive to what our partners have to say.”
Findings from hearings and written testimony will shape the Commission’s final report to Secretary Haaland, Attorney General Garland and Congress. This report is required by October 2023 and will include recommendations for how to improve intergovernmental coordination, bolster resources, and establish best practices for State/Tribal/Federal law enforcement to challenge the tragic epidemic of MMIP violence and human trafficking.
Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese is a member of Nambé Pueblo and senior policy advisor for Native American affairs at the White House. At the June 28, 2023, Not Invisible Commission hearing in Albuquerque, she acknowledged the victims and families present at the hearing and how critical their testimony is to create solutions to the crisis.
“These hearings are so important,” Hidalgo Reese said. “Neglect and invisibility are too often the cause or enable violence in our communities … we need to understand this problem from every angle. We need to explore every possible solution, so we need to hear from all of you.”
SOURCES:
Personal interview with Carmen O’Leary
nativenewsonline.net/currents/not-invisible-act-commission-hears-mmip-testimony-in-n-m-doj-dedicates-more-resources-to-mmip?utm_source=Native+News+Online&utm_campaign=06bd42dabe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_11_24_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dfd2540337-06bd42dabe-1413647251 NOTE: THIS ARTICLE INCLUDES A GREAT PICTURE THAT GOES WELL WITH THIS STORY. The caption for this picture could be: At a public hearing in Albuquerque NM, Not Invisible Act Commission members were seated around four chairs, each chair donning a red skirt in honor of those who have been murdered or are missing.
www.doi.gov/pressreleases/not-invisible-act-commission-announces-field-hearings-begin-this-spring
www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/dtll-niac-hearing-billings-mt-2023-06-08-signed.pdf
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July 21, 2023