Missing, murdered Indigenous people are a slient epidemic in Oklahoma
Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People MMIP cases, with 85 tribal members currently missing, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
On May 5, a day meant to honor those missing and murdered Indigenous people, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed House Bill 1137. The bipartisan amendment to Ida's Law removed the requirement to request federal funding, allowing the state to fund the Office of Liaison for MMIP. The veto consequently denies critical resources needed to bring loved ones home and to provide justice.
Ida's Law is named after Ida Beard, a Cheyenne and Arapaho woman who went missing in Oklahoma in 2015. The law took effect in 2021 and was intended to address systematic issues impacting MMIP cases.
Ida's Law created a formal infrastructure for MMIP cases and required the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to have a liaison to work with tribal governments and families to help coordinate investigations, limiting bureaucratic delays.
Gov. Stitt's veto is the latest example of persistent institutional failures that cause untold harm and tragic consequences.
As president and founder of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Chahta (MMIW-Chahta), I have spent my life learning the real stories and meeting the families behind these devastating statistics and the institutional barriers that affect MMIP cases in our state.
This crisis is a result of generational trauma, media mishandling, insufficient reporting and a lack of investigative resources to protect the disproportionately affected members of our communities. Rampant racial misclassification also means even more Native people may be missing, but their cases don't officially count.
More: Oklahoma governor vetoes MMIP bill, saying investigators shouldn't prioritize cases 'based on race'
As our nation reflects during National Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Month, we must confront the deep-rooted neglect and societal indifference that has perpetuated for centuries. We must keep fighting for those we love and have lost.
House Bill 1137 received overwhelming support in both houses, demonstrating Oklahomans' desire to help those impacted by this crisis. In joining that effort, support Native organizations fighting for justice, amplify the voices of advocates and ― most importantly ― share their stories. Don't forget the individuals behind the statistics.
Oklahoma positions itself as a center for Native culture and pride. We must also lead the nation in the fight for justice for Native people.
Karrisa Newkirk is the President and Founder of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Chahta.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tribal women ignored in Stitt's veto of bipartisan bill | Opinion
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Intercept
2 hours ago
- The Intercept
Trump Could Use Sacred Native Land for a Monument to… Columbus
A provision buried deep in the House budget bill allocates $40 million toward President Donald Trump's plan for a vast garden of larger-than-life statues — and it could get built on sacred Native land. The House version of the budget reconciliation bill passed last month contains funding for Trump's proposed National Garden of American Heroes, which would lionize figures ranging from Andrew Jackson to Harriet Tubman. While the garden does not have an official location yet, one candidate is minutes from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the iconic carvings of presidential faces in South Dakota's Black Hills. Trump first announced his plan for a national statue garden during a July 4, 2020, address at Mount Rushmore in response to the racial justice protesters toppling Confederate statues. 'I'm quite sure that Harriet Tubman would not be pleased.' The potential statue garden site near Mount Rushmore belongs to an influential South Dakotan mining family that has offered to donate the land, an offer that has support from the state's governor. The Black Hills, however, are sacred land to the region's Indigenous peoples, and its ownership following a U.S. treaty violation is contested. One Native activist decried the idea of building another monument in the mountain range. 'I'm quite sure,' said Taylor Gunhammer, an organizer with the NDN Collective and citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, 'that Harriet Tubman would not be pleased that people trying to build the statue of her on stolen Lakota land have apparently learned nothing from her.' Trump's vision has had a rocky road to realization. Trump's announcement was meant to offer his own competing vision to the activists who sought to remove statues — by force or by politics — of figures like Andrew Jackson or Confederate generals. In one of the final acts of his first term, he issued a list of potential figures that alternately baffled, delighted or outraged observers. They included divisive — but inarguably historic — figures such as Jackson, who signed the Indian Removal Act that began the Trail of Tears. Also listed, however, were unexpected choices such as Canadian-born 'Jeopardy' host Alex Trebek, who was naturalized in 1998. Some of the names never got American citizenship at all — including Christopher Columbus. Joe Biden canceled the idea after taking the presidency, but Trump quickly revived it after his second inauguration. The National Endowment for the Humanities was placed in charge of commissioning artists, who are required to craft 'classical' statues in marble, granite, bronze, copper, or brass and barred from abstract or modernist styles. The statue-making process has drawn its own skeptics about whether Trump can fulfill a vision of having the garden ready by July 4, 2026, the nation's 250th birthday. The process of selecting a site and building Trump's vision of a 'vast outdoor park' in time could be just as daunting, however. The Interior Department declined to comment on the site selection process, with a spokesperson saying that the garden was still in the 'planning and discussion phase.' 'We are judiciously implementing the President's Executive Order and will provide additional information as it becomes available,' spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace said. One of the few publicly known site candidates emerged in March, when Republican South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden issued a press release flagging the Black Hills as a potential location. In his announcement, he noted that the Lien family of Rapid City, South Dakota, had already offered land it owns near Mount Rushmore. The Lien family, which has major interests in South Dakota mining projects, is also developing a theme park resort in Rapid City and a lodge nearby in the Black Hills. The family owns dozens of acres near the historic Doane Robinson tunnel, which offers motorists a framed view of Mount Rushmore. The vision of another monument in the Black Hills, however, would place South Dakota politicians on a collision course with some Native tribal members who have long lamented the creation of Mount Rushmore. The Lakota Sioux called the mountain the Six Grandfathers and ventured to it for prayer and devotion, according to National Geographic. The entire Black Hills were sacred ground for the Lakota and other tribes. The Black Hills were promised to the Oceti Sakowin peoples as part of a Great Sioux Reservation in an 1868 treaty, but the U.S. government broke its promise when gold was discovered there. 'The fact that it was built in the Black Hills was not an accident or happenstance.' The Oceti Sakowin Oyate, commonly known as the Sioux Nation, won a 1980 Supreme Court case finding that they had been wrongfully deprived of the land. They rejected the court's finding that they should receive monetary compensation and continued to seek return of the land. (Several tribes involved in the case did not respond to requests for comment about the proposed statue garden.) Some Indigenous people in South Dakota see the carved faces on Mount Rushmore as a defacement of land that rightfully belongs to them. 'The fact that it was built in the Black Hills was not an accident or happenstance,' Gunhammer said. 'It is representative of the exact colonial presence that the settler colonial project has always been trying to have in the Black Hills.' Mount Rushmore is a point of pride for other South Dakotans, as well as an economic boon. Sam Brannan, a Lien family member who supports the project, said she was hopeful that the White House would take them up on their offer to build another patriotic attraction nearby. 'We're just honored and hopeful that they will consider our site,' she said. 'The people they have selected are amazing. I hope everybody goes through those 250 names. They are very representative of the United States.' The statue garden proposal comes at the same time as a family-owned company, Pete Lien and Sons, seeks to conduct exploratory drilling for graphite in the Black Hills near Pe' Sla, another sacred ceremonial site for the Lakota. Gunhammer has been active in organizing tribal members against the proposed mining activity, which would happen on U.S. Forest Service land. 'The same company trying to build this national hero garden in order to preserve history is currently trying to undertake a project that destroys history for everyone,' he said. 'The same company trying to build this national hero garden in order to preserve history is currently trying to undertake a project that destroys history for everyone.' Brannan referred questions about the mining project to Pete Lien and Sons, which did not respond to a request for comment sent through its website. With regards to the national garden, Brannan said that Native tribes have not been consulted on the family's offer yet. 'Why would we? It's been privately held for 60 years,' she said. Still, Brannan said the tribes could be consulted if the project advances. She said no one organization can claim to speak for all the Lakota people, and that her family maintains warm relations with Native leaders. 'We have been in mining for 80 years in the Black Hills, so we have been great neighbors to the Lakotans here,' she said, referring to one of the subgroups that makes up the Oceti Sakowin people. In a statement, Josie Harms, the press secretary for the South Dakota governor, noted that the potential list of figures to be honored includes Native leaders such as Sitting Bull, the Lakota leader who defeated George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. 'The tract of land in question is private property owned by Chuck Lien and his family,' said Harms, referring to the family patriarch who died in 2018. 'As a result, it will cause no disruption to either state or tribal land. As a federal project, the state will be a partner with the federal government as it seeks to comply with its regulations or consultation, as needed.' The Trump administration has yet to detail how it will select the site for the statue garden, although numerous states and counties pitched the Interior Department five years ago. Brannan said it was her understanding that more than 20 sites are being considered. Her family has not had direct contact with the Trump administration, she said. One factor in the Black Hills site's favor is that the garden is gaining momentum at a high-water mark for the political influence of the twin Great Plains states of North and South Dakota. Former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who first championed the idea, is serving as Trump's Homeland Security secretary. South Dakota Sen. John Thune is the upper chamber's majority leader. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is serving as the secretary of the Interior Department, the executive tapped with finding the location for the garden. South Dakota's lone U.S. representative, Dusty Johnson — like Noem, Thune, and Burgum, a Republican — told The Intercept that the Black Hills have a strong shot. He has been pushing the idea with the Trump administration. 'I don't want to speak for the administration, other than I would tell you every conversation I have had with them, they understand the value of this particular parcel, and that they are going to give the Black Hills of South Dakota a full and complete look,' he said. 'We're going to have a real chance to win.' The House's plan to spend tens of millions of dollars on the garden is laid out in the same reconciliation bill that would kick 11 million people off health insurance, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office estimate. To make it into law, the spending provision would have to win Senate approval. Thune's office didn't respond to a request for comment. The House bill does not specify whether the money should be spent on the site or the statues. Money from hundreds of National Endowment for the Humanities grants that the Trump administration canceled could be redirected to pay for the statues, the New York Times reported in April. The National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts have jointly committed $34 million for the project, including $30 million from this year's budget for the statues. Some of the National Endowment for the Humanities grants that were canceled would have supported Native cultural projects in South Dakota. The roster of grants killed includes $60,000 for an anthology of Lakota and Dakota literature in translation and $205,000 for an Oglala language archiving project, according to a list maintained by the Association for Computers and the Humanities.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stitt, Chickasha leaders announce 'transformative' industrial park, power venture—but offer few specifics
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Governor Kevin Stitt, along with Chickasha leaders, announced plans for a massive industrial park and power generation partnership in Chickasha, calling it a transformative $3.5 billion investment—but offered few specifics about what exactly is coming, and Stitt joined local officials Thursday on an empty property near Chickasha's airport to unveil the say the industrial park will house aerospace, manufacturing, and other high-demand industries, potentially creating thousands of development is being spearheaded by Chet Hitt, a developer from California.'This announcement marked the beginning of a new chapter for Chickasha,' Hitt said. 'It's a step that will bring opportunity, growth, and future prosperity to our community.'The project also includes a joint venture between an Oklahoma City investment firm, Citizen Capital, and Las Vegas-based Lightfield Energy. Cleveland County Sheriff says no layoffs needed despite lower budget approval Together, they plan to build what they call 'behind-the-meter' energy systems—an on-site power generation plant meant to serve high-load energy users like data centers.'Our partnership with Lightfield Energy represents a strategic investment for national security, critical supply chains, energy independence, and economic development,' said Citizen Capital Executive Chairman Bond Stitt said the plan was made possible by a new law passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, allowing private entities to generate their own power on-site without joining the traditional held a ceremonial signing of the bill during Thursday's announcement.'When government gets out of the way and just let business innovate, that's when the magic happens. That's when you see companies growing, and you see companies moving from states like California to states like Oklahoma that are the most business-friendly states in the country,' Stitt the announcement did not include any specific details about the who, what, or when of the did not share a development timeline, what kind of fuel source they plan to use at the power plant, or any names of potential companies that plan to be tenants at the park, nor how many, if any, are currently on 4 will continue to follow developments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
North Dakota adding alerts for missing Native, endangered people
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Jenna Clawson Huibregtse, right, special programs coordinator for safety and education for the department, speaks next to Phil Packineau, left, public safety administrator for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, on new alerts being added to the state's emergency system during the Government-to-Government Conference on June 5, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Members of North Dakota law enforcement updated the public on new alerts that will go into effect Aug. 1 to help locate members of Native communities and other adults who are reported missing. During the seventh annual Government-to-Government conference in Bismarck on Thursday, a member of the state Highway Patrol outlined how the feather and missing, endangered alerts will be added to the already established Amber, Silver and Blue Alert systems. North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Jenna Clawson Huibregtse, special programs coordinator for safety and education for the department, said Feather Alerts will specifically be used for missing members of the indigenous community. 'The phone blast, as we call it, or when we wake you up at 3 a.m. on your cellphone, we try not to, but when someone's life is in danger, we're going to do it,' Clawson Huibregtse said. 'That piece will only be used in abduction cases.' She added website, social media, electronic billboards and media releases will be used in Feather Alert cases not involving abduction or threats of bodily harm. 'To get that word out, that's the most important piece is galvanizing the public to help us find somebody,' she said. Once alerts are issued to the public, the person is usually found within a couple of hours, she said. North Dakota tribes push for more autonomy amid federal cuts Phil Packineau, public safety administrator for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, said MHA has an emergency response agreement with state law enforcement to assist tribal law enforcement, if the need ever arises. 'We've identified numerous resources that we can bring to bear when there is somebody missing and that includes Highway Patrol,' Packineau said. He added Highway Patrol has been able to deploy its airplane with infrared capability within 45 minutes of being notified of a missing person. He said of the 86 missing persons reports from tribal lands in North Dakota this year, 83 of those individuals have been found so far. Packineau praised the tribal relationship with local and state law enforcement despite some tense times, like during the protests that erupted in 2016 and 2017 over the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in rural Morton County. 'Even after DAPL, and everything that kind of soured a little bit in the Standing Rock area, when we've had missing persons, we've called Morton County and they said they could gather six to seven deputies and send them down. It's really that kind of a close relationship,' Packineau said. Clawson Huibregtse said a Missing, Endangered Persons Alert will also be added to the state's system Aug. 1 that will focus on abducted individuals between 18 to 65 years old. 'Right now in the alert system from 18 years old to 65, if you are abducted or your life is in serious danger of bodily harm or death, there is not an alert type that serves you right now,' she said. Clawson Huibregtse cited examples of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, Dru Sjodin and Sherry Arnold who went missing over the last 25 years, but law enforcement did not have a direct alert message system to notify the public of their disappearances. 'So, it will now. The missing, endangered persons alert will do that,' she said. She said the Amber Alert is used to notify the public when a child 17 years old or younger is abducted. Clawson Huibregtse added that about 90% of amber alerts in the state are issued to locate missing Native children. 'That's not just Native American kids that are on tribal lands, that's across the state from Bismarck, Fargo, et cetera,' she said. 'I always want to relay that statistic because it is kind of a staggering statistic because that is a really high representation in the amber alerts program.' Silver Alerts, she said, are not just for missing people aged 65 and older, but also people with functional and mental impairment or developmental disabilities. Blue Alerts are issued to notify the public of a suspect search for a person who attempts, or succeeds, to injure, harm or kill a law enforcement officer, including federal and tribal officers. House Bill 1535, sponsored by Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, created the new alerts and passed both legislative chambers with overwhelming support, 74-17 in the House and 45-1 in the Senate. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on May 2. Rep. Christina Wolff, R-Minot, pushed back against the Feather Alert bill during debate on the House floor, saying too many alerts reduces their effectiveness. 'This is a feel good bill that does not guarantee to help the situation, but will absolutely dilute the effectiveness of our current alert systems,' Wolff said on May 1. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
