Indian Caucus: “Native American women are more likely to go missing, more likely to be murdered..."

HELENA—This week, the Montana Legislature will be considering several bills that address the devastating epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. In advance of Wednesday’s Judiciary Committee hearings on key legislation like Hanna’s Act, the Indian Caucus highlighted the urgency of seeking justice for Native American women and children in Montana.

Rep. Rae Peppers (HD-41) and Rep. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy (HD-42) have led the charge on introducing legislation to require municipal, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement to coordinate their efforts to find murdered and missing Indigenous women.

Read more below:

Great Falls Tribune: Indian Caucus seeks justice for Native women

Montana Indian Caucus

January 28, 2019

Highlights:

• “It’s not safe to be an Indian woman in Montana.”

• “It is our lived experience that Native American women are more likely to go missing, more likely to be murdered, and less likely to have justice in our state.”

• “The lack of reliable data, and the lack of formal studies on violence against women in Indian Country, has made it difficult to address this widespread epidemic.”

• “Sadly when this happens, our loved ones are treated as ‘just another Indian woman’ gone missing. Their cases become cold before they are ever properly investigated.”

• “That is why the Indian Caucus is leading the charge in the 2019 Legislative session on passing laws to protect and prioritize missing and murdered Indigenous women. It is a hidden epidemic that has permeated all aspects of our lives.”

Read full article here.