MMIP Press Release

Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation receives an award to create a comprehensive community response plan for MMIP

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) is an epidemic in our region. Earlier this year the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (Nation) passed a resolution addressing the MMIP crisis. Last week the Nation received a $504,456-dollar award in grant funding from Office of Justice Programs, Victims of Crime. The Nation’s Community and Family Wellness (CFW) staff will use these funds to gather data, develop necessary partnerships with local law enforcement, emergency service first responders, medical providers and others, to develop, train and implement the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation's response plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. one of our citizens or members of their family goes missing or is murdered.

For this project, the ultimate objective is to develop a living planning document and procedural manual that will guide the Nation, it’s partner agencies, and the community in a coordinated, trauma informed and family centered response when an Indigenous person goes missing or is murdered.

The Nation will seek out ways to increase community awareness of MMIP and will seek to increase victim services to the families of the disappeared or murdered Native people. These services could include: counseling for the children of the disappeared, burial assistance, community walks and healing ceremonies.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To raise awareness on this issue Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation CFW Victim Services Division is hosting a MMIP dinner for the community ages 18 and over. We hope to Increase MMIP community awareness and offer education on intersections of MMIP with other crimes such as: domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The MMIP dinner was held on October 28, 2022 from 6-8pm at the Howonquet Hall Community Center located at 101 Indian Ct. in Smith River.

The Nation will work to coordinate efforts across the Nation's departments, federal and state agencies, Tribes and Tribal organizations, law enforcement, and community-based organizations to create a Tribal Community Response plan (TCRP). This TCRP will build the Nation’s capacity to increase the response in the event of a disappearance or murder of our tribal citizens. Dorothy Wait, Tribal Councilwoman, shared, "we are laying down the framework for proactive responses in the future. Native Americans are overrepresented in more negative aspects of crime, especially women. This is a nationwide public health crisis."

Violence against indigenous people is a severe violation of human rights. The effects range from immediate to multiple long-term physical, sexual and mental harm, including death. Often time, the harm also extends to the victim’s family and friends. Advocating and investing in the protection of indigenous peoples sets a pathway towards equality, eradication of poverty, economic growth, and overall wellness in our communities. Receipt of these funds will allow for the Nation to prepare to take a leadership role when