Last week, at a crucial hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, Law and Order Committee Chairwoman Eugenia Charles-Newton provided compelling testimony emphasizing the urgent need for federal action to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). .
“We must stop pretending that these cases are isolated, and we must stop allowing them to be swept under the rug,” Charles-Newton stated, highlighting systemic failures that leave countless cases unsolved.
Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to receive our reporting directly to your inbox every weekday morning.
She underscored the challenges posed by jurisdictional complexity, communications breakdowns and the severe lack of law enforcement resources – factors that collectively hinder justice for affected communities.
Charles-Newton drew attention to the 75 members of the Navajo Nation currently missing, many of whose cases remain unsolved due to jurisdictional confusion and poor coordination between federal, state and tribal authorities. She told the story of Zachariah Shorty, a Navajo man who disappeared in 2020. Despite being reported to local authorities in Farmington, New Mexico, jurisdictional disputes delayed action by Navajo Nation law enforcement authorities. By the time they were able to investigate, Zachariah was found dead and his killer is still at large.
“This is just one example of how jurisdictional confusion and a lack of resources leave families without answers,” Charles-Newton said. “This has to stop. We are doing all we can with the limited resources we have, but we need Congress to take action. The Navajo Nation alone covers over 17,000 square miles with a population of over 250,000, and is the largest Native American tribe in the US. We have a right to expect better protection from the federal government.”
Her testimony was supported by alarming statistics shared by other lawmakers. Congressman Mike Simpson noted that more than two in five Native women experience rape in their lifetime, Native Americans make up 46% of all human trafficking victims in the U.S., and for every thousand individuals, 19 Native Americans are reported missing – a staggering number that requires urgent action. .
While the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) marked progress, Charles-Newton and other advocates emphasized that significant obstacles remain. Many cases are dismissed or not prosecuted, leaving the perpetrators unaccountable.
Advocates like Abigail Echo Hawk and Cheryl Horne called for more resources and better coordination among law enforcement agencies, especially in rural and urban areas where Indigenous communities are often overlooked. “It’s not just about jurisdiction; it’s about accountability,” said Echo Hawk. “Resources meant for our communities are not being distributed as they should be, and we are left to pick up the pieces.”
Charles-Newton concluded her testimony with a direct appeal to Congress: “Education and understanding are the first steps, but we must act. These cases should no longer be forgotten.”
She urged the federal government to take immediate responsibility, address the crisis and ensure justice for indigenous victims.
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), a tribal citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, concluded the hearing by emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation. “This is not a partisan issue; it is a national issue,” Cole said. “The partnership of federal, state and tribal leadership is essential if we are to make real progress in ending violence against Native women and girls.”
About the Author: “Native News Online is one of the most widely read publications covering Indian Country and the news important to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Native peoples. Contact us at editor@nativenewsonline.net.”
Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
