Alaska is ushering in the new year with an increased focus on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis. New legislation signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy requires Indigenous cultural training for new police officers, an assessment of the Department of Public Safety’s investigative resources for reporting MMIP cases, and the establishment of a commission to review and report on unsolved cases. Deilah Johnson, an advocate with the Village of Solomon Tribe, calls the commission a much-needed step. “At the state level, there was just not a lot of discussion or acknowledgment in addressing any of the overwhelming statistics surrounding the issues facing Indigenous populations, specifically women and young girls,” Johnson said. The nine-member commission, which includes seats for victim advocacy and Alaska Native Tribal organizations, will report findings to the Alaska Legislature. Johnson hopes the new measures will continue to generate awareness about MMIP and inspire partnerships to build additional resources.
