{"id":37064,"date":"2024-05-16T15:20:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T20:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/the-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-person-crisis-calls-for-indigenous-data-sovereignty\/"},"modified":"2024-05-16T15:20:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T20:20:14","slug":"the-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-person-crisis-calls-for-indigenous-data-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/the-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-person-crisis-calls-for-indigenous-data-sovereignty\/","title":{"rendered":"The missing and murdered Indigenous person crisis calls for Indigenous data sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 A national commission is calling on the federal government to declare a \u201cDecade of Action and Healing\u201d regarding the public safety crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. The commission issued a report listing its many findings, including problems of reporting and collecting data. The U.S. Interior and Justice departments issued a joint response in early March.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one should have to experience the loss of a loved one \u2014 let alone losses across generations \u2014 due to the lack of resources, jurisdictional complexities or unnecessary bureaucracy,\u201d wrote Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a joint statement released in a\u00a0231-page report<\/a>\u00a0on March 5.<\/p>\n

To acknowledge the high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous persons, the two federal agencies responded to recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission, or NIAC. In its 212-page\u00a0Not One More report<\/a>\u00a0released Nov. 1, 2023, the commission pointed to the federal government\u2019s historic failure to uphold trust responsibilities to Native people.<\/p>\n

The report includes seven chapters of findings and recommendations. Chapter 2 addresses reporting and collecting data on missing, murdered and trafficked persons including 16 findings related to data collection.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccurate data on Native Americans are necessary for federal, state, local, and Tribal governments to monitor conditions and make informed policy and spending decisions. Unfortunately, there is a lack of available data at all levels of government but especially at the national level to ascertain the extent of the problem,\u201d wrote subcommittee members.<\/p>\n

The NIAC and Indian Law and Order Commission recommended the federal government generate accurate crime reports for Indian Country.<\/p>\n

The Justice and Interior departments responded that DOJ \u201chas been making steady improvements in crime reporting since the Indian Law and Order Commission released its recommendations. Since 2016, when the FBI\u2019s Uniform Crime Reporting, UUCR, Program began its transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, NIBRS, only reporting, the FBI has collaborated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to encourage and assist Tribal agencies to report NIBRS data.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, the Not Invisible Act subcommittee issued 14 data-related recommendations to the Interior and Justice departments, ranging from the federal government\u2019s need to generate accurate crime reports for Indian Country and completing an audit of systems and sources that collect data on missing American Indian\/Alaska Native persons.<\/p>\n

Not Invisible Act commissioners wrote: \u201cThere is a crisis in tribal communities. A crisis of violence, a crisis of abuse, and a crisis of abject neglect affecting Indian women and men, Indian children, and Indian elders. The federal government must act now; not tomorrow; not next week; not next month; and not next year. Once and for all, the federal government must end its systematic failure to address this crisis and react, redress, and resolve this. We call on the federal government to declare a \u2018Decade of Action and Healing\u2019 to address the crisis of missing, murdered and trafficked Indian people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report confirms one of the biggest roadblocks experienced by journalists reporting on missing and murdered Indigenous people \u2013 a lack of reliable or accessible data.<\/p>\n

The public safety crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples reaches far beyond advocates, federal agencies and myriad law enforcement workers. A survey by the First Nations Development Institute recently listed missing and murdered Indigenous women as the\u00a0top concern of voters<\/a>\u00a0in the 2024 election season.<\/p>\n

Despite being the smallest percentage of the population, Indigenous people rank among the second highest number of reported missing and murdered persons, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. At least 11 states with Indigenous communities have launched initiatives concentrated on improving communication, data and resources.<\/p>\n

Journalists on the frontlines of reporting on murdered and missing Indigenous persons need a central database to accurately report on this ongoing crisis in Indian Country.<\/p>\n

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker (Muscogee Creek Nation), executive director of the Indigenous Journalists Association, underscored the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty \u2013 the collection, ownership, and application of data being managed by organizations rooted in community as a best practice for protecting Indigenous people and resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndigenous journalism by and for Indigenous peoples is a key driver of self-determination and to fully realize that we must ensure that our data and histories are accurately represented within the media landscape. Expanding access to accurate news and information is essential to healthy democracies across tribal, local, state, and national levels, and a centralized database would be a critical reporting resource for all journalists covering the MMIP crisis,\u201d Landsberry-Baker said.<\/p>\n

IJA President Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi) added that a centralized and comprehensive MMIP database is long overdue. \u201cThis is the monumental breakthrough needed to better cover this ongoing crisis, and we need it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NIAC\u2019s report illustrates how the lack of comprehensive, quality data has hidden how severe the missing and murdered Indigenous people\u2019s issue is across Native American communities. Although the Justice Department declares it \u201chas been making steady improvements in crime reporting\u201d, it\u2019s clear progress is slow and inadequate.<\/p>\n

A central database managed by a neutral party, such as the Indigenous Journalists Association (formerly the Native American Journalists Association), is needed due to the existing lack of standardized reporting protocols across competing legal jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know.\u00a0Become a member<\/a>,\u00a0give to the Legal Defense Fund<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0give to the SPJ Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CONTACT:
\nJodi Rave Spotted Bear, SPJ Freedom of Information Committee Chair,\u00a0jodispottedbear@gmail.com<\/a>
\nKim Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Specialist,\u00a0ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The post The missing and murdered Indigenous person crisis calls for Indigenous data sovereignty<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/div>

INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 A national commission is calling on the federal government to declare a \u201cDecade of Action and Healing\u201d regarding the public safety crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. The commission issued a report listing its many findings, including problems of reporting and collecting data. The U.S. Interior and <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a>
Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> May 16, 2024<\/p>\n

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