Missing Native American Women

[imstilla.grandma]

The last four years the Administration has prioritized the long-overlooked issue of missing and murdered Native Americans and the Nashville Cold Case office will serve as a beacon of hope to the families impacted,” said Director Hoelscher.

“I’m very pleased to announce the opening of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force’s cold case office in Nashville, Tennessee, a continuation of the Operation Lady Justice efforts to meet the mandates of Executive Order 13898 to address the crisis of missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives” said Assistant Secretary Sweeney, who also serves on the Task Force. “I strongly encourage the new administration to continue this commitment to bringing justice to victims and their families.”

“Operation Lady Justice has been one of the most rewarding lines of effort that I have worked on in my time at the Department of the Interior,” said Deputy Secretary MacGregor. “With the leadership of Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney and BIA law enforcement professionals, we have been able to stand up all seven cold case task force units throughout our country under this Administration - and it is my sincere hope that they will continue to flourish under the next Administration to resolve cases for those who have waited for justice for far too long.”
Operation Lady Justice Task Force Opens Cold Case Office in Nashville, Tennessee

 

[SunSun]

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced a new unit within Bureau of Indian Affairs that plans to tackle the decades-long crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans.

The new unit is expected to “help put the full weight of the federal government” to investigate the cases and coordinate resources among federal agencies and Indian country.

Former President Trump signed an executive order in 2019 setting up a federal interagency task force dedicated to these cases called Operation Lady Justice. The new unit will build on the task force’s work and will designate new leadership and support positions.

Deb Haaland creates unit to investigate killings and disappearances of Indigenous people

 

[mickey2942]

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced a new unit within Bureau of Indian Affairs that plans to tackle the decades-long crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans.

The new unit is expected to “help put the full weight of the federal government” to investigate the cases and coordinate resources among federal agencies and Indian country.

Former President Trump signed an executive order in 2019 setting up a federal interagency task force dedicated to these cases called Operation Lady Justice. The new unit will build on the task force’s work and will designate new leadership and support positions.

Deb Haaland creates unit to investigate killings and disappearances of Indigenous people

I sincerely hope that this is more than "lip service". There should be more shelters for domestic violence and education about resources for women who are victims of domestic violence on the rez.

Domestic violence is NOT "a family issue". Something I heard many times...

 

[Filly]

Just had the opportunity to catch the very end of a radio interview with a Mary Kathryn Nagele? Please let me spelling it correctly! It looks like she is a playwright as far as I can see perhaps an attorney as well? Anyway she sounded mighty PO'd and had information as far as I could tell how Native women and girls go missing and not enough being done.

Yikes, now they have a dude about Native plants. Caffeine is harder to kick than opium from the poppy. Your employer gives you a coffee break thus gives you a drug for free?

Just tell us how we can help in the fight to ensure justice, safety, and all things positive for Native American women and girls.

***Note plant guy was Michael Pollen?***

 

[TootsieFootsie]

'We're On Our Own,' Says Murdered Native Woman's Family | The Crime Report

 

[Cryptic]

Just tell us how we can help in the fight to ensure justice, safety, and all things positive for Native American women and girls.

I am thinking a certain number of these missing cases and possible associated domestic violence or other activity is with in the reservations.

Native Americans have sovereignty over their own lands. Being sovereign gives natives freedom and the ability to "run your own show". Though the federal government can intervene, it can be very hesitant to do so.

But..... sovereignty also gives the freedom to "run the show" badly. And when "the show" starts to falter, there is nobody around to get it going again. A Puerto Rican friend once explained to me the Puerto Rico is also sovereign in practice.

Over the years the traditional Puerto Rican strength of family ties and loyalty to friends has created a "System" where what your last name is and who you know matters far more than what your abilities are.

Likewise, many aspects of life, including effective government services such as police, are reliant on back door "connections" that are in turn dependent on "who you are / who you know"- or your ability to provide something in return.

I think many Indian Reservations could be like my friend's description of Puerto Rico. This leaves less connected Native women and their families out in the cold- with no easy solutions in sight.

 

[Filly]

bumping for all the Indigenous missing.

Children, women and men.

 

[joe jones]

Families of missing and murdered Native women ask: ‘Where’s the attention for ours?’ | Native Americans | The Guardian

good article on the disparity between who gets the media attention

 

[10ofRods]

I am thinking a certain number of these missing cases and possible associated domestic violence or other activity is with in the reservations.

Native Americans have sovereignty over their own lands. Being sovereign gives natives freedom and the ability to "run your own show". Though the federal government can intervene, it can be very hesitant to do so.

But..... sovereignty also gives the freedom to "run the show" badly. And when "the show" starts to falter, there is nobody around to get it going again. A Puerto Rican friend once explained to me the Puerto Rico is also sovereign in practice.

Over the years the traditional Puerto Rican strength of family ties and loyalty to friends has created a "System" where what your last name is and who you know matters far more than what your abilities are.

Likewise, many aspects of life, including effective government services such as police, are reliant on back door "connections" that are in turn dependent on "who you are / who you know"- or your ability to provide something in return.

I think many Indian Reservations could be like my friend's description of Puerto Rico. This leaves less connected Native women and their families out in the cold- with no easy solutions in sight.

Also, so many people living on reservations do not have cell phones for each family member, much less internet access at home. So social media use is thin and we all know that to a case to the top of the news cycle, several forms of social media are needed - and television, as well. Today, there are huge struggles on the reservations that are near big population centers to host casinos, which has led to a whole other layer of problems - really serious problems.

 

[worldwatcher]

Also, so many people living on reservations do not have cell phones for each family member, much less internet access at home. So social media use is thin and we all know that to a case to the top of the news cycle, several forms of social media are needed - and television, as well. Today, there are huge struggles on the reservations that are near big population centers to host casinos, which has led to a whole other layer of problems - really serious problems.

Is there any way to improve this?
There must be NGO's aware,working,or at least be aware?
#DTA

 

[Cryptic]

Is there any way to improve this?
There must be NGO's aware,working,or at least be aware?
#DTA

I imagine the casino spun problems would be very difficult to solve.

Tribes need the money that casinos bring and not every tribe or local economy can support an "up scale market" casino where problem people tend to be priced out.

Furthermore, some casino problems might be exacerbated internally. A friend of mine (white) who once worked as a security guard at an Indian casino told me that every native in a management position at the casino was deeply embedded in "the system".

Thus, they had less incentive to fix problems so long as the cash flow continued. Likewise, security guards both native and non native could become beholden to certain managers via friendships, job reliance etc.

So.... when a certain manager created problem situations via inviting questionable friends being given long term rooms "on the house" or through hosting private parties with bad news guests, they were just ignored.

 

[squish]

Families of missing and murdered Native women ask: ‘Where’s the attention for ours?’ | Native Americans | The Guardian

good article on the disparity between who gets the media attention

I dislike this sort of article. These articles always feel like victim-blaming white murder victims, or acting like they are privileged. The resentment is barely concealed. There is no hierarchy of privilege among the murdered. They're dead. It is also an insult to the thousands upon thousands of white people who are missing, murdered or unidentified and never received media attention. Many of them, especially from before the era of the internet, couldn't even get police attention.

Only a very, very small number of cases receive extensive media coverage, and while those are often young, pretty, white, middle class girls, the vast majority of white victims (especially those who don't fit the pretty, middle class etc criteria) are still largely ignored.

It is possible to campaign for better coverage and resources for missing/murdered Native woman, and to draw attention to any disparities, without being resentful of the white victims who do get publicity. To be clear, I am referring to the Guardian, they are at fault for producing an article like this, not the quoted families of victims. If they really cared, they would have a regular column promoting little-known missing/murder cases - and not just when a white women is slain. It is callous and using Gabby. None of this is her fault.

 

[mickey2942]

Families of missing and murdered Native women ask: ‘Where’s the attention for ours?’ | Native Americans | The Guardian

good article on the disparity between who gets the media attention

The flip side of this, is the outcry of "racism" when minorities are investigated in minority communities. So? Do they want aggressive investigations? Or would they prefer to be left alone?

 

[Cheri416]

Of course there is a hierarchy. All you have to do is look at the to people covered on this very site. Black, brown and Native organizations have campaigned for more exposure for years. This article isn't about resentment, it is a simple statement of facts. All you have to do to get involved is Google it. I really wish that people could have more empathy for victims of color, face the truths about this country and stop getting caught up in their own petty feelings. There is no flip side to this racism. People of color want justice, they want to treated fairly and humanely just like white people do.

 

[SunnyTurtle]

I hope you don’t mind me boosting the case of a murdered indigenous girl whose case is in need of more awareness if she is to be identified. Genealogy research found Madisonville Jane Doe, originally thought to be Caucasian or Hispanic, has Native American heritage as well. Her remains were discovered more than five years ago in Madisonville, TX, approximately 3-5 months after her death, but pollen connects her to southeast Arizona. She was disabled, with a small jaw and surgically placed feeding tube.

 

[mickey2942]

Lummi Nation woman disappears during Las Vegas trip with fiance and friends

The Vanished

 

[worldwatcher]

The Associated Press reported on Tanya Begay’s disappearance in 2018, as part of a series of stories on missing Native women and how authorities can better pursue their cases.

Navajo girlfriend of slaying suspect missing since 2017

Tanya Teresa Begay – The Charley Project

On WS:
NM - NM - Tanya Teresa Begay, 36, Tohatchi, Mar 2017

 

[janewall]

Lummi Nation woman disappears during Las Vegas trip with fiance and friends

The Vanished

I tried to post this update yesterday, but it was apparently lost while the site was down. In a rare – but highly welcome – positive outcome in this kind of scenario, Reatha May Finkbonner has been found alive. Missing Lummi Nation woman found alive, relatives and police say Here's hoping that by now she has been safely and happily reunited with her children and others who care about her wellbeing.

 

[worldwatcher]

I tried to post this update yesterday, but it was apparently lost while the site was down. In a rare – but highly welcome – positive outcome in this kind of scenario, Reatha May Finkbonner has been found alive. Missing Lummi Nation woman found alive, relatives and police say Here's hoping that by now she has been safely and happily reunited with her children and others who care about her wellbeing.

 

[worldwatcher]

Bumping for Indigenous People's Day!!
-Too many missings-