The Department of the Interior and the Justice Department held a virtual roundtable on Thursday to discuss improving media coverage of missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking (HT). The event included Tribal representatives, advocates, members of the media, and survivors.
This initiative is part of the federal response to recommendations from the Not Invisible Act Commission. Established in November 2023 under the Not Invisible Act of 2019, this federal advisory committee aims to combat violent crime on Indian lands and against American Indian and Alaska Native people. The Commission's recommendations stemmed from seven public hearings across the country and a two-day virtual national hearing. During these sessions, survivors and families expressed concerns about insufficient media coverage contributing to unsolved cases.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who authored the Not Invisible Act while in Congress, emphasized that “a crisis that exists in silence will never be solved.” She stated, “Today is one step of many to ensure our missing relatives’ stories are told.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted the importance of public communication: “Public communication, news stories, and social media can be crucial in finding and investigating cases of missing or murdered Indigenous persons.” He noted that this roundtable aims to develop best practices for aiding law enforcement, families, advocates, and journalists when a Native community member goes missing.
Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland opened the roundtable with remarks on making life better for people in Tribal communities. "Public safety is a big part of this," he said. "Addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis and human trafficking are at the forefront of our public safety work."
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer also spoke at the event: "The potential for immediate, real-time alerts makes media...a powerful tool to get word out fast when emergencies happen."
In August, Secretary Haaland and Attorney General Garland visited New Mexico to discuss efforts with federal and Tribal leaders regarding MMIP and human trafficking. Under their leadership, initiatives have been launched to address high rates of violent crime in Indian Country.
The Departments plan to publish best practices derived from this discussion by year-end. Recommendations can be submitted via email at newsmedia@bia.gov until Friday, October 4.
