Walz, Flanagan Launch Task Force to End Violence Against Indigenous Women
Statement
Today, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan launched the first meeting of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force with a ceremonial bill signing that brought together advocates, tribal representatives, law enforcement, and elected officials in their commitment to end violence against Indigenous women. The establishment of the MMIW Task Force was included in the 2019 Omnibus Public Safety and Judiciary budget bill ( S.F. 8 ).
The MMIW Task Force, established with bipartisan support, draws attention to the disproportionate rates of murder and violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls, as well as the lack of attention these cases garner from media and law enforcement. Of the nearly 6,000 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls reported in 2016, only 116 were logged in the Department of Justice's database.
"Native women and girls are subject to violent crime at alarmingly high rates, and we're taking action to end this disproportionate epidemic," said Governor Walz. "That's why we established a task force to examine the root causes of this violence, collect better data, and provide support to Native families who are caught up in this nightmare."
"This task force will rely on the experiences of survivors and families as it works towards identifying effective strategies grounded in community," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "We are witnessing increased awareness around this issue across Minnesota and the country, due to the courage and resilience of Native women who are telling their stories and those of the women we have lost but not forgotten. This task force is long overdue."
"We measure what we care about and it's time we start collecting accurate and consistent data on Indigenous women who have been abused and gone missing," Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said. "This task force will help us ask the right questions and provide recommendations to reduce and hopefully end violence against Indigenous women and girls."
The MMIW Task Force consists of 27 members. The primary duties of the Task Force are: to advise the Commissioner of Public Safety; to serve as a liaison between the Commissioner of Public Safety, agencies, and organizations that provide legal, social, or other community services; and to report recommendations to the Legislature on how to reduce and end violence against Indigenous women and girls in Minnesota. The law requires them to provide this report by December 15, 2020.
The Task Force is comprised of the following members:
Luke Hennen
Scott County Sheriff, Minnesota Sheriff's Association
Law Enforcement Representative
Drew Evans
Superintendent, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Law Enforcement Representative
Judge Jeffrey Bryan
Second Judicial District
Legal Field Representative
Deidre Aanstad
Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney -- District of Minnesota
Legal Field Representative
Kim Mammedaty
Hennepin County Attorney, Minnesota County Attorney's Association
Legal Field Representative
Jon Roesler
Epidemiologist, Minnesota Department of Health Injury and Violence Prevention -Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Analysis Unit
Coroner or Minnesota Department of Health Representative
Patina Park
President and CEO, Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
Advocacy Representative
Nicole Matthews
Executive Director, Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition
Advocacy Representative
Alyxis Feltus
Coalition Director, Mending the Sacred Hoop
Advocacy Representative
Sheila Lamb
Advocate, Life House
Advocacy Representative
Chris Stark
Advocacy Representative
Brook LaFloe
Program Manager, Women's Foundation of Minnesota
Advocacy Representative
Panda Whiteman
Victim Services Coordinator
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Roger Smith, Sr.
District III RBC Member
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Jacki Kozlowski
Domestic Violence Advocate
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Brian Pottratz
Human Trafficking Investigator
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Debra Flute
Assistant General Counsel
Lower Sioux Indian Community
Nicole Anderson
Commissioner of Health and Human Services
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Jacole Hersant
Family Services Specialist
Prairie Island Indian Community
Michelle Mountain
DV/SV Advocate, Chemical Assessor
Red Lake Nation
Denise Prescott
Community Member
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Chris Lee
Police Chief
Upper Sioux Community
Tanya Vold (Appointment Pending)
Program Manager DOVE
White Earth Nation
Senator Paul Utke
Minnesota Senate Majority Member
Senator Patricia Torres Ray
Minnesota Senate Minority Member
Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein
Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Member
Representative Sondra Erickson
Minnesota House of Representatives Minority Member
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