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Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons

About MMIP

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a crisis that impacts Indigenous peoples and communities. MMIP refers to the extreme high rates of violence that Indigenous Peoples face, and the lack of data around missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples. This crisis exists both on and off reservations and high rates of MMIP exist in cities.  The New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs has worked to address this issue statewide to ensure that MMIP issues are highlighted.

The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department worked on MMIP issues when data was released of the high rates of MMIP in New Mexico. In response in 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham established the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Advisory Council Act, with House Bill 278.  On May 5, 2021, Governor Lujan Grisham signed Executive Order 2021-013 to continue the advisory council. The advisory council completed their work and produced an MMIP State Response Plan.

Additionally, in 2022 the New Mexico Legislative Session approved Senate Bill 13 which created Missing in New Mexico Day. Missing in New Mexico Day is intended to support all New Mexicans who are searching for missing relatives. October 19, 2024, the third annual Missing In New Mexico Day was held by New Mexico Department of Public Safety, the Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse in conjunction with the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

It is the New Mexico Indian Affairs Departments plan to ensure the implementation of the New Mexico State Response plan to help address issues of MMIP and ensure safety and protection of all Indigenous People in New Mexico.

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Resources

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MMIP Resources

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NM MMIP Clearinghouse

MMIP Awareness Day

What to Do if an Indigenous Person Goes Missing

MMIP State Response Plan - May 2022

MMIP Advisory Council Report - December 2020

MMIP Infographic

MMIP Advisory Council Findings

For questions about the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Program contact:

Natasha Ashley Brokeshoulder, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Coordinator
New Mexico Indian Affairs Department

Cell: (505) 470-0688
Email: natasha.ashleybrokeshoulder@iad.nm.gov

IAD Missing Person Protocol Magnet

State Response Plan Tables

State Response Plan

Timeline: ST= Short Term 1-2 years | MT= Mid-term 2-3 years | LT= Long-term over 3 years

Priority: P=Primary | S= Secondary

Barriers: A= Lacks statutory authority | D= Limited access to reliable and relevant data | K= Limited Knowledge of Best Practices | IT= Technology | P= Personnel | PD= Cross-sector Professional Development | PW= Political Will | J= Jurisdictional Inconsistencies | R= Lack of resources for personnel, equipment, travel | S= Systemic barriers (discriminatory) | LC= Language barrier

Benefits: A= Strengthens Public Awareness | B= Builds Systems Capacity | CC= Cross-system Coordination | CR= Culturally Responsive | E= Advances Equity | LR= Linguistically Responsive | PH= Improves Public Health | P= Strengthens Prevention | PSTrans= Improves Public Safety | PT= Public Trust is Increased | RJ= Restorative Justice | TI=Advances a Trauma-Informed Response

Government Action: A=Lacks statutory authority | D= Limited access to reliable and relevant data | K= Limited Knowledge of Best Practices | IT=Technology

Support Services for Survivors and Families (p. 24)

Strategy 1 action plan: shelters, support services, and crisis response
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
1a. Establish secure and confidential shelters within Tribal communities and border towns for individuals, families, and youth in crisis MT S P, PD, R B, CR, E, LR, PH, TI Y-County, Y-Tribal, Y- Grassroots, Y- Victim's Rights, Y-Indigenous Specific, Y-LGBTQ/Two Spirit
1b. Expand support services to include housing support, mental health, substance abuse and trafficking aftercare (e.g., The Life Link in Santa Fe). ST P R, P, PD, D All All Gov, all Comm
1c. Provide more victim-centered resources and availability of victim advocates and/or a family liaison. ST P P, R, J, PD A, B, CC, TI, PH, CR Y – County, Tribal; Y-All Comm
1d. Increase state and local funding to provide resources and programs that can support survivors and families. ST P D, A, lack of accountability for federal trust responsibilities. All Y – All Gov; Y – All Comm
1e. Inclusive service programs such as healthcare, behavioral health, IHS, first responders, service programs HHS (First Nations) need to include community members from youth, 2SLGBTQ+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus), and rural locations. ST P K, R, D (tribal), PD, lack of community education All All Gov, all Comm
1f. Strengthen services provided for long-and short term housing to improve crisis response and increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. ST, LT P K, PD, P, R CC, CR, PH, P, TI Y – Tribal and County with federal support. Y- Healthcare/MH, LGBTQIA

Develop Community Outreach, Education, and Prevention Strategies (p. 33)

Strategy 2 action plan: education, awareness, and investigation capacity
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
2a. Develop career pathways for Native youth for careers within tribal communities, including pathways in social and behavioral services, trade, social justice, criminal justice, education, agriculture, medical, and rehabilitation programs to expand the workforce in tribal and neighboring communities. LT S D, R (monetary), S A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Y-Tribal, State, Federal
2b. Expand youth programs and community education to raise awareness and prevention of sexual violence and domestic violence. ST P PW, K, S, P, J, R, LC A, B, CR, LR, E, P, PS, PH, PT, TI, RJ Y-Tribal, Federal, State, County, Municipal, Grassroots, Victim's Rights, Healthcare, Indigenous specific, LGBTQ/two-spirit
2c. To create and expand culturally-relevant curriculum on healthy relationships and violence prevention. Develop education, outreach, and training for and from impacted community members to identify and respond to signs of human trafficking and domestic violence. LT P PW, K, S, P, J A, B, CR, LR, E, P, PS, PH, PT, TI, RJ Y-Tribal, Federal, State, County, Municipal, Grassroots, Victim's Rights, Healthcare, Indigenous specific, LGBTQ/two-spirit
2d. Raise awareness of MMIWR through the creation of a resource guide and repository with informational materials and media campaigns that can be posted in public places and businesses. ST S P, R, D, S A, CR, E, P, PS, TI, CC Y-State, Grassroots, Victim's Rights, Healthcare, Indigenous specific, LGBTQ/two-spirit
2e. Secure updated equipment for investigations and crime scene documentation. MT P IT, P, K, J, R B, PS, PT Y-Tribal, Federal, State, County, Municipal
2f. Secure and implement training for standardized state- and tribal-wide investigations and crime scene documentation. LT P IT, P, K, J, R, S B, CR, PS, PT, TI Y-Tribal, Federal, State, County, Municipal, Grassroots, Victim's Rights, Healthcare, Indigenous specific, LGBTQ/two-spirit
2g.1) Revise training standards for NM Law Enforcement in collaboration with the MMIWR Task Force and the NMAG Human Trafficking Task Force. 2g. 2) Establish a cross-sector statewide training bureau around MMIWR and related issues to strengthen victims' services. LT P PW, S, A, P, PD, J, R, D, K A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Y-Tribal, State, County, Municipal, Grassroots, Victim's Rights, Healthcare, Indigenous specific, LGBTQ/two-spirit

Develop Community Resources for Strong Responses (p. 48)

Strategy 3 action plan: community healing, prevention, and education
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
3a. Identify trusted community members who can be trained to serve as facilitators for grief and loss support groups and connect to existing grief and loss supports. (Training orgs and resource data base., i.e DOJ VAWA) ST P K, IT, PD, P, PW, R, S, LC A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ All
3b. Educate youth pre-k-12 about MMIWR, emphasizing prevention. (Related to 2b) MT P A, PW, K, S, P, J, R A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI School boards, State, Tribal, Federal, Healthcare/Mental Health, Human Services
3c. Develop Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) within tribal communities to spread awareness about MMIWR, focused on prevention. LT P A, K, IT, P, PD, PW, R, S, LC A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Tribal, Federal, State, Indigenous specific community partners- grassroots, health, mental health, human service, LGBT/Two Spirit, victim's rights
3d. Create a strong intergenerational community (prevention) response, including youth prevention and education programs that are based in culture and healthy relationships. MT P K, IT, P, PD, PW, LC, S, R A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Tribal, County, Municipality, Federal-$, Community-based- All Community Groups
3e. Provide healing options with different modalities for survivors and reentry programs to ensure reintegration and a healing journey. MT/LT P R, PW, PD, K, S, AH, LC A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI All Actors
3f. Develop community aid and response to check on vulnerable people (youth, people with disabilities and elders) during pandemic isolation. ST P A, D, P, PW, R, J, AH, S A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Call to community groups
3g. Identify funding for each school (state and BIE) to support existing resources and to require the establishment of LGBTQ Two Spirit student groups. (Build from PFLAG and Gay Straight Alliance, etc. Model) MT P A, P, PW, R, S, PD, K A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ State, Federal, Tribal-$, Community- grassroots, LGBT/Two Spirit

Build Capacity Within Systems to Meet the Needs of MMIP (p. 61)

Strategy 4 action plan: funding, legal reform, and intergovernmental coordination
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
4a. Seek and secure funding for capacity building to respond to MMIWR cases. MT P P, K, R, J, S B, CC, CR, E, LR, PS, TI Y-Tribal, Y-Federal, Y-Victim's Rights, Y-Indigenous Specific
4b. Seek and secure funding for tribal court safety, equipment, and technology. MT P P, K, R, J, IT, S B, PS, CC, PT Y-State, Tribal
4c. Support legal reform in tribal communities to prohibit human trafficking. LT S P, R, PW, D B, CC, PS, P, PT Y-Tribal, Federal, Victim's Rights, Healthcare/Mental Health/Human Services
4d. Advocate and secure funding for additional Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) positions and resources to tribal courts. LT P R P, CC, B, PT Y-Tribal, Federal, Victim's Rights
4e. Establish liaison positions, task forces, and opportunities to discuss and improve coordination and collaboration between tribal, state, city, county and federal agencies. MT S PW, P, R B, CC, PT All Government

Identified Law Enforcement Recommendations (p. 71)

Strategy 5 action plan: interagency coordination, legislation, and law enforcement
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
5a. Create Memorandums of Understanding between tribal law enforcement agencies and state/county/city agencies to facilitate information sharing, resource sharing, investigations, enforcement, or other creative partnerships to strengthen the response to MMIWR cases. MT S R, PW, K, PD A, B, CC, PS, PT Y-Tribal, State, Federal, Municipal, County
5b. The Department of Public Safety must identify solutions to improve and increase commissioning agreements in collaboration with tribal leadership. MT P PW, R, J, PD A, B, CC, PS, PT Y-Tribal, State, County
5c. Establish a permanent MMIWR office with a standing cold case review team. MT P R, P, J, A, K B, A, CC, PS, PT, P All Govt; All community
5d. Create and pass legislation mandating training focused on MMIWR and improving reporting by all public safety personnel across the state. MT P P, K, R B, CC, PS Y-State, Federal, Municipal, County, Victim's Rights
5e. Support all New Mexico tribes' participation in the 2013 VAWA. LT P IT, P, PD, PW, R B, P, PH, PS, PT, RJ Y-Federal, State, Tribal, Victim's Rights
5f. Streamline the process to commission state police officers with the Special Law Enforcement Commission (SLEC). LT S P, PD, R, J B, CC, PS Y-State, Federal, Tribal
5g. Establish a mandatory protection order sharing between tribes and New Mexico Law Enforcement officers via NCIC. (Pro) MT P P, R, K A, B, CC, CR, E, LR, PH, P, PS, PT, RJ, TI Y-State, Federal, Tribal, Victim's Rights, Indigenous specific, LBTQ/2S

Develop Standards and Capacity for Data to be Reported and Documented Accurately (p. 83)

Strategy 6 action plan: data collection, reporting, and missing persons tracking
Strategies Timeline Priority Barriers Benefits Government Action? Our Plan
6a. Support increased data-gathering capacity across law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to increase accountability and ability to understand frequency, type and location of crimes. ST P D, K, IT, P, PD, J, R, PW B, CC, PS, PT, RJ Government Action: Y-State, Y-Tribal, Y-Federal, Y-Municipal agreement; Community Action: Y
6b. Increase capacity for the State to consistently report missing persons cases to NamUs as required by House Bill 16 (2019) within 30 days. ST P IT, P, PD, J, R A, CC, CR, PH, PS, TI, PT Government Action: Y-State, Y-Federal, Y-Tribal; Community Action: N
6c. Include tribal affiliation when documenting missing persons, trafficking, and cases of homicide to improve data gathering and policy development. ST S K, IT, P, PD, J, R A, B, CC, CR, E, PH, PS, PT, RJ Government Action: Y-M, C, F, T; Community Action: Y-GR, Y-VR, Y-H/MH/HS, Y-IS, Y-LGBTQ
6d. Enact federal legislation requiring NCIC to track tribal affiliation and ethnicity data in the missing persons reporting forms. MT P PW, D, K, R, J TI, RJ, PT, E, A, PH, P Government Action: Y-M, S, C, F, T; Community Action: Y-GR, Y-VR, Y-H/MH/HS, Y-LGBTQ2+
6e. Initiate in-depth data collection by examining case files to help document gaps in the investigation and prosecution processes. MT P D, K, IT, P, PD, PW TI, P, A, E Government Action: Y-M, S, C, F, T; Community Action: Y-VR, Y-H/MH/HS, Y-IS
6f. Work with Tribal governments to pass laws and policies that require reporting of all missing persons cases to the National Crime Information Center and State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. LT P K, IT, P, PD, R, PW, J TI, PT, RJ Government Action: Y-Tribal; Community Action: Y-Grassroots, Y-Healthcare/Mental Health
6g. Establish a data institute to track and study cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans/2S+ and LGBQ community members as well as boys and men that also documents tribal-specific data. LT P D, R, IT, P, PD, K, PW B, PH, CC, E, P, PS, PT Government Action: Y-S, F, T, M

MMIP Advisory Council

    To Be Announced!

    Past MMIP Advisory Council Members

    • Melody Delmar, Interim Board Chair, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department
    • Suzanne Skasik, Department of Public Safety, Captain/Special Investigations Unit
    • Henry Kaulaity, Special Agent, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services
    • Jana Pfefiffer, New Mexico Office of the Attorney General
    • Delilah Tenorio, New Mexico Office of the Attorney General
    • Richelle Montoya, Navajo Nation Vice President
    • Jasmin Blackwater Nygren, Navajo Nation First Lady
    • John Tsosie, Executive Assistant to the Navajo Nation President
    • James Maiorano, New Mexico Sheriff's Association
    • Deputy Chief Taft Tracy, Farmington Police Department
    • Sergeant Andrea Tsosie, Gallup Police Department
    • Andrea Romero, New Mexico Representative
    • Linda Lopez, New Mexico Senator
    • Mila Reinikainen, Sandia Pueblo Behavioral Health
    • Pretty Water Duran, ICWA Manager San Ildefonso Pueblo
    • Koy Perea, Jicarilla Apache Nation
    • Ardena Orosco, Mescalero Apache Tribe
    • Anthony Mendez, Mescalero Apache Tribe
    • Rita Capitan, Navajo Nation Crownpoint Chapter Representative
    • Amber Crotty, Navajo Nation Council Delegate
    • Kelly Gilbreth, Crossroads for Women/Americans for Indian Opportunity
    • Nicole Webb, UNM Hospital Trauma Nurse
    • Michelle Pent, Local physician specializing in public health and addiction
    • Darlene Gomez, Legal advocate
    • MaryEllen Garcia, NM Crime Victim Reparation Commission
    • Meskee Yatsayte, Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives
    • Jennifer Denetdale, Navajo Nation Human Right Commission
    • Celina Montoya-Garcia, Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
    • Nolan J. Hall, Indigenous Youth Representative
    • Mattee Jim, HIV Prevention Coordinator, First Nations Community Healthsource
    • Reycita Billie, Navajo Nation Tribal Dispatcher
    • Chuck Weaver, Santa Ana Pueblo Criminal Investigator
    • Chastity Sandoval, Nambe Pueblo Victim Legal Advocate
    • Kyle Hartsock, Albuquerque Police Department
    • Tracy J Madrid, Indigenous survivors of violence or family members of an Indigenous relative who has been a victim of violence
    • Petra Solimon, Indigenous survivors of violence or family members of an Indigenous relative who has been a victim of violence
    • Becky Johnson, Indigenous survivors of violence or family member of an Indigenous relative who has been a victim of violence