The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force has introduced a toolkit aimed at assisting families and friends when someone they know goes missing. The Families Subcommittee of the Task Force, led by Carolyn DeFord of the Puyallup tribe and Maureen Rosette of the Chippewa Cree tribe, developed this resource over three years through discussions with families affected by such tragedies.
Carolyn DeFord emphasized that "families, friends, and communities of those using the toolkit should know they are not alone." She acknowledged that while the toolkit does not provide all answers, it encapsulates experiences shared by the Families Subcommittee. "This toolkit comes from a shared responsibility to our mothers, sisters, Two-spirit siblings, girls, boys, men, and loved ones whose lives are valuable and deserve protection and justice," she added.
Maureen Rosette described the toolkit as being created "by community, for community," expressing solidarity with affected families in remembrance of lost lives. Attorney General Nick Brown highlighted Washington state's leadership role in addressing these issues: “Washington state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force has been model for the nation,” he stated.
The toolkit includes steps for families to follow when a person goes missing. It also emphasizes collaboration with resources like the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. This unit supports both families and law enforcement agencies during searches by providing posters, online information dissemination, and investigation management assistance.
The MMIWP Task Force had previously established an alert system specifically for missing Indigenous people as well as a cold case unit focused on unsolved cases involving missing or murdered individuals. The ongoing work is rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices.
Further details about the Task Force can be found on their website: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-state-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-people-task-force