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DEC 22, 2022
nebraskapublicmedia.org
[...]
Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[...]
Accountability for these cases is only muddied by jurisdictional issues.
That’s the case for the disappearance of Iowa Native Rita Papakee. The Meskwaki woman was last seen at the eastern Iowa tribal settlement’s casino in 2015.
Tribes are under federal jurisdiction, meaning they can’t rely on state resources in missing persons cases. Help from agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation often takes more time than state assistance, said Meskwaki Police Commissioner Mark Bear.
“These guys and gals are handling stuff all over the country. So that means you're really in competition with other entities that may need that same assistance,” Bear said.
But, the small rural community has found ways to keep Papakee’s case alive.
There are annual walks in her honor. An organization, called RISE, was formed to help tackle violence against Indigenous women. And the community is funding an award for any information known about the case. It’s up to $100,000 today.
[...]
Seven years into her disappearance, family birthday parties and graduations and the birth of grandchildren feel different without Papakee, Walker said. They still feel heavy under the weight of her loss.
“Some people struggle every day with her not being here,” she said. “A lot was taken away from our family when they took her away. We would like to send her home.”
[...]
Iowa Native communities combat crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
nebraskapublicmedia.org
Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[...]
Accountability for these cases is only muddied by jurisdictional issues.
That’s the case for the disappearance of Iowa Native Rita Papakee. The Meskwaki woman was last seen at the eastern Iowa tribal settlement’s casino in 2015.
Tribes are under federal jurisdiction, meaning they can’t rely on state resources in missing persons cases. Help from agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation often takes more time than state assistance, said Meskwaki Police Commissioner Mark Bear.
“These guys and gals are handling stuff all over the country. So that means you're really in competition with other entities that may need that same assistance,” Bear said.
But, the small rural community has found ways to keep Papakee’s case alive.
There are annual walks in her honor. An organization, called RISE, was formed to help tackle violence against Indigenous women. And the community is funding an award for any information known about the case. It’s up to $100,000 today.
[...]
Seven years into her disappearance, family birthday parties and graduations and the birth of grandchildren feel different without Papakee, Walker said. They still feel heavy under the weight of her loss.
“Some people struggle every day with her not being here,” she said. “A lot was taken away from our family when they took her away. We would like to send her home.”
[...]
