DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of the continued work by the Departments of the Interior and Justice to implement the Not Invisible Act and address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) and Human Trafficking crises, the Not Invisible Act Commission this week concluded its 8th and final public hearing.

The Commission held seven public hearings across the country, as well as a two-day national virtual hearing, to hear directly from the public in some of the communities most affected by these crises. These hearings provided a forum for the Commission’s subcommittees to hear from panels of subject matter experts, advocates, and law enforcement members as well as direct testimony from the public, including survivors and family members.

The Not Invisible Act, which was led by then-Rep. Haaland and passed into law in October 2020, established the Commission as a cross jurisdictional advisory committee composed of both federal and non-federal members including law enforcement, Tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.

Anyone still interested in submitting written testimony or recommendations to the Commission can do so by emailing NIAC@ios.doi.gov with the subject line “NIAC Testimony” by Aug. 10, 2023.

Select media coverage is below: 

Tulsa, Oklahoma

KOTV CBS 6: Not Invisible Act Commission Holds Public Hearing in Tulsa

The Not Invisible Act Commission was in Tulsa Tuesday, holding one of its first public hearings. The commission was appointed by the Department of the Interior to guide federal agencies on how to help the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Members of the community shared their concerns and ideas in a panel discussion with the Not Invisible Act Commission. “Violence in Indian Country needs to be addressed, it’s a huge concern, especially in the state of Oklahoma,” Melody Ybarra said.

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Public Media: Federal commission hears from Alaskans on high rate of missing and murdered Indigenous people

Indigenous people in Alaska are murdered and go missing at higher rates than almost anywhere in the country. Vivian Korthuis, chief executive of Bethel-based Association of Village Council Presidents, said more than 300 Alaska Natives are on the missing and murdered registry. “To me, that’s the same size as a village. A whole village. And it’s shocking to know that there’s that many people we’re missing,” she said. “Something needs to be done.” Korthuis is a member of a panel created by Congress to address the tragedy. The Not Invisible Act Commission met in Anchorage this week to hear testimony from victims and from advocates working to prevent violence.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Arizona Mirror: National commission on the MMIP crisis meets in Arizona to hear testimony, recommendations

Five empty chairs sat at the front of the Not Invisible Act Commission hearing, each wrapped in a shawl, blanket or quilt representing a different group of individuals impacted by human trafficking or with a loved one who is missing or murdered. “We want to allow space for representing our relatives,” commission member Grace Bulltail said, noting the traditions in many Indigenous families to always preserve a space for absent loved ones. “We’re doing that to honor our loved ones,” Bulltail said, explaining that, by putting the chairs there, the commission hearing was holding space for them.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

CBS News Minnesota: Minneapolis hearing aims to reduce crimes against Indigenous community

A federal commission is in Minneapolis Tuesday looking for ways to reduce crimes committed against Indigenous people, and hearing suggestions from the public as well. This marks the fourth public hearing of the Not Invisible Act Commission, but leaders said their work is far from over. The goal of this hearing — which was, at times, very emotional — was to leave with recommendations on how to better fight the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons.

Blue Lake, California

KRCR ABC 7: Not Invisible Act Commission in Humboldt this week to hear MMIP testimonies

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Not Invisible Act Commission is in Humboldt this week to listen to testimonies from local indigenous people about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Crisis in Northern California. The commission has been traveling these past few months to a number of MMIP hotspots in the country, and on Tuesday, it made its way to Humboldt, where dozens of indigenous people donned in red for MMIP awareness were eager to have their stories heard.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

KUNM NPR New Mexico: Hearings begin in Albuquerque, hoping to combat violence in Native communities

In an effort to combat high rates of violence, murder and disappearance among Native communities, a three-day listening event began in Albuquerque today. It is the latest of several hearings by the U.S. Interior Department held in areas with high Indigenous populations. The process was laid out in the Not Invisible Act, which was proposed in 2019 by current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland when she was in Congress, along with three other members of Congress, all tribal members. “A real solution will never be found without the voices of Indigenous survivors, which is what is so special about this bill,” Haaland said in a speech at the time.

Billings, Montana

Billings Gazette: ‘There need to be consequences:’ Families and experts of MMIP say justice system failed them at Billings hearing

Steven Bearcrane-Cole was killed on his day off. It was Feb. 2, 2005, and unusually warm. Steven, a 23-year-old Crow tribal member, had wanted to run errands, pay some bills and spend time with his 3-year-old daughter, Precious, when he received a call from a coworker. It was Bobby Gene Holcomb, a fellow ranch hand at Leachman Cattle Co. ranch on the Crow Reservation, and he needed help with the horses. Steven had a soft heart for the animals, his mother Earline Bearcrane-Cole remembered, and Holcomb was a friend. They’d spent a Christmas celebration together, and Steven planned to teach Holcomb how to cook with a pressure cooker.