Ya’at’eeh Relatives/Frens/Humans, the Navajo Nation Council Naabik’iyati Committee Missing & Murdered Dine’ Relatives is meeting at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in the Navajo Council Budget & Finance Committee meeting room, in Window Rock, Arizona. The MMDR Task Force meeting Thursday morning is scheduled before the Naabik’iyati Committee meeting at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in the Navajo Council chambers in Window Rock, Ariz.
The MMDR Task Force has been working diligently with federal government agencies to address MMDR. In response, the U.S. Department of Justice recently created five U.S. Assistant Attorney (AUSA) positions to regionally address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis across the United States including the Navajo Nation, said Navajo Council Delegate and MMDR Task Force Chairwoman Amber Kanazbah Crotty, who represents the chapters of Beclabito, Cove, Gad Íí’áhí/ Tókǫ’í, Red Valley, Tooh Haltsooí, Toadlena/ Two Grey Hills, and Tsé Ałnáozt’i’í.
Crotty said, “The AUSA will work with federal case agents on MMIP cases and local law enforcement. If a case crosses over any region or faces jurisdictional issues, a process is in place for the five AUSA’s to collaborate.”
There is no Call-In info for the MMDR Task Force meeting, Nov. 9, 2023.
Crotty sponsored Legislation No. 203-22, which established the Naabik’íyáti’ Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, when it was passed October 2022, according to a Navajo Council press release.
The three-branch multidisciplinary task force of 12 members consists of three Navajo Council delegates from the Navajo Council representing the Naabik’íyáti’, Law and Order, and Human, Education, Health and Education Services Committees, and additional task force members representing the Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker, Office of the President and Vice-President, Judicial Branch, Chief Prosecutors Office, Chief Public Defenders Office, Police Department, and three community representatives.
Action plans of the MMDR Task Force are:
- Develop recommendations to the Naabik’iyati’ Committee and Office of the President and Vice-President on actions that the Navajo Nation government can take to respond to and combat instances of missing Dine persons, murder, and human trafficking on and off the Navajo Nation;
- Develop a non-profit data institute to collect the stories and community-based knowledge to aid the Navajo public and Navajo Nation leadership in understanding the scope of missing and murdered Dine relatives, as well as to develop solution-based pathways for healing and justice through wrap around services, programming, and prevention;
- Develop, finalize, and continually update a missing persons toolkit easily accessible by all Navajo members and Navajo Nation residents;
- Advocate for and develop programs, including victim’s services and victim advocates, that support families with a missing or murdered Dine relative;
- Advocate for federal, state, and tribal funding for an inter-coordinated tribal information management system with judicial data tracking systems and training;
- Advocate for federal, state, and tribal funding for transitional housing for victims of violent crimes and their families;
- Secure information and propose data-sharing agreements with state and federal law enforcement agencies; and
Expand partnerships with other internal and external entities, including state and federal law enforcement agencies, that are also striving to resolve the missing and murdered indigenous person crisis.
As of Sept. 11, there are currently 81 missing persons according to the Navajo Nation Police Department/NNPD Facebook Page.
AGENDA OF THE MISSING AND MURDERED DINE RELATIVES TASK FORCE OF THE NAABIK’IYATI’ COMMITTTEE, 25TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
Nov 09, 2023, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
PRESIDING: Honorable Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Chairperson
LOCATION: Budget and Finance Conference Room, Window Rock, AZ
[ ] Honorable Amber Kanazbah Crotty, NABI
[ ] Honorable Helena Nez Begay, HEHSC
[ ] Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton, LOC
[ ] Ms. Sonlatsa Jim, OOS
[ ] Ms. Yolanda Azua, OP/VP
[ ] Ms. Laveena Begay, JB
[ ] Ms. Reycita Billie, NNPD
[ ] Mr. Vernon Jackson, Chief Prosecutor’s Office
[ ] Ms. Angela Sanford, Chief Public Defender’s Office (Rep.)
Three Representative from Navajo Nation communities: to be determined
- ________________________
- ________________________
- ________________________
- Call Meeting to Order; Roll Call; and Invocation
- Recognize Guests and Visiting Officials:
- Review and Adopt the Agenda:
(M) (S) (V) - Receiving Reports:
a. Report on Confirming of Three Representatives to be selected to MMDR Task Force.
(M) (S) (V)
b. Report on Establishing Unity of Family Advisory Group by Chairwoman Amber Kanazbah Crotty, MMDR Task Force.
(M) (S) (V)
c. Report from Reycita Billie, PSAP Supervisor, MMIP Liaison, Navajo Police Department, Office of Police Chief regarding “Missing Person Day” happen on November 04, 2023.
(M) (S) (V) - Old Business:
a. Report from Chenoabah Stilwell-Jensen, regarding identify and assess transitional housing services for families.
(M) (S) (V) - New Business: None
- Close the Meeting; Announcements; Adjournment
(M) (S) (V)
Reminder:
Meetings for the Missing and Murdered Dine Relatives Task Force from 8:30 a.m.to 10:00 a.m. in-person and virtual hybrid (every other Thursday’s).
Next Meeting Date:
November 23, 2023 – Holiday – (Change to November 30, 2023)
According to a Nov. 6, 2023, Navajo Council press release, Chenoa Bah Stilwell-Jensen, MMDR Community Advocate and prevention/intervention coordinator, presented a report on behalf of the Southwest Indigenous Housing Justice Collective (SIHJC) regarding transitional housing services for unsheltered relatives.
SIHJC’s work is based on the United Nations Indigenous Declaration for Human Rights and housing rights and focuses on locating funding resources for all Indigenous tribes for domestic violence and emergency shelters, and mental and behavioral health resources.
SIHJC’s community outreach incorporates cultural components for the transitional, indigenous unsheltered community, while providing educational resources surrounding human rights.
The Collective seeks financial options for tribes by reaching abroad, working, and learning about national funding that is available for individuals, groups, business owners, tribes and Indigenous communities that need non-tribal governmental funding. SIHJC also focuses on workforce training to provide skills for community members to build their own homes.
Stilwell-Jensen recommended that the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) conduct trainings for Navajo Housing Authority (NHA), chapter officials, community program agencies and the Navajo Nation Council to gain insight on the various sources of funding available to Indigenous tribes.
“There are only three domestic violence shelters on the Navajo Nation. When a victim needs immediate emergency assistance, it is important to have funding proactively secured to place victims in safe housing,” she said. “We need NHA to fund shelters and the emergency needs of our people. How do they get to a safe place or get a hotel coupon? NHA can apply for funding for these types of dire needs.”
NAVAJO COUNCIL 11.6.23 PRESS RELEASE – Naabik’íyáti’ Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force brings federal manpower to assist with MMDR crisis on the Navajo Nation
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Thursday, Oct. 26, the 25th Navajo Nation Council Naabik’íyáti’ Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives (MMDR) Task Force heard a report on the introduction of federal assistance to MMDR cases on the Navajo Nation.
“We learned that the U.S. Department of Justice has recently created five U.S. Assistant Attorney (AUSA) positions to regionally address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis across the United States including the Navajo Nation,” said Council Delegate and MMDR Task Force Chair Amber Kanazbah Crotty (Beclabito, Cove, Gad Íí’áhí/ Tókǫ’í, Red Valley, Tooh Haltsooí, Toadlena/ Two Grey Hills, Tsé Ałnáozt’i’í). “The AUSA will work with federal case agents on MMIP cases and local law enforcement. If a case crosses over any region or faces jurisdictional issues, a process is in place for the five AUSA’s to collaborate.”
The AUSA for the Southwestern Region is Eliot Neal, who will transition to the Albuquerque N.M. office during the first quarter of 2024. Neal’s region includes New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. In addition to investigating cases, he will participate in regional task forces and serve as a resource from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Neal has worked with the Mescalero Apache Tribe for the last two years as a tribal liaison assisting with missing persons cases.
As of October, the DOJ has assigned Neal six unresolved cases from the Navajo Nation. These cases range in dates from 1986 to 2021. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and other AUSA agents have previously reviewed the MMIP cases that are being assigned to the agents.
“This issue deserves and requires one hundred percent of our full-time attention. As we move forward, we’ll identify what is needed. We’ll shape our role, identify needs and do what is most helpful to have the greatest impact,” said Neal.
Chenoa Bah Stilwell-Jensen, MMDR Community Advocate and prevention/intervention coordinator, suggested that a cultural safety training take place to assist with kinship protocols, cultural lifeways, reframing of verbiage, and nurturing language for families in grief or trauma. This cultural training will assist the AUSA when communicating with MMIP families and victims.
Stilwell-Jensen also presented a report on behalf of the Southwest Indigenous Housing Justice Collective (SIHJC) regarding transitional housing services for unsheltered relatives.
SIHJC’s work is based on the United Nations Indigenous Declaration for Human Rights and housing rights and focuses on locating funding resources for all Indigenous tribes for domestic violence and emergency shelters, and mental and behavioral health resources.
SIHJC’s community outreach incorporates cultural components for the transitional, indigenous unsheltered community, while providing educational resources surrounding human rights.
The Collective seeks financial options for tribes by reaching abroad, working, and learning about national funding that is available for individuals, groups, business owners, tribes and Indigenous communities that need non-tribal governmental funding. SIHJC also focuses on workforce training to provide skills for community members to build their own homes.
Stilwell-Jensen recommended that the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) conduct trainings for Navajo Housing Authority (NHA), chapter officials, community program agencies and the Navajo Nation Council to gain insight on the various sources of funding available to Indigenous tribes.
“There are only three domestic violence shelters on the Navajo Nation. When a victim needs immediate emergency assistance, it is important to have funding proactively secured to place victims in safe housing,” she said. “We need NHA to fund shelters and the emergency needs of our people. How do they get to a safe place or get a hotel coupon? NHA can apply for funding for these types of dire needs.”
During the meeting, the Task Force confirmed the selection of three advisory representatives from Navajo communities to serve on the MMDR Task Force. Selections have been confirmed and will be announced at an upcoming meeting.
Task Force members in attendance were Chair Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Navajo Nation Police Department MMIP Liaison Reycita Billie, Judicial Branch Representative Laveena Begay, and Office of the Speaker Legislative Staff Assistant Sonlatsa Jim. Guests in attendance included Delegate Dr. Andy Nez and community advocate John L. Tsosie.
Mihio Manus, Communication Director
Chris Burnside, Sr. Public Information Officer
Holly James, Sr. Public Information Officer
Phone: (928) 871-7234
Email: nnlb.communications@gmail.com
