WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2026) — As the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Tribal Nations, and advocates observe Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR) Awareness Day, we are reminded that this crisis is not abstract — it is personal. Behind every recommendation are families still searching for answers and communities working to keep their people safe.
The work to prevent tragedy and keep our women, children, and relatives safe is further strengthened by the leadership of the NCAI Violence Against Women (VAW) Task Force, which has consistently elevated the priorities of Tribal Nations in addressing violence against Native women and communities. The Task Force has played a critical role in ensuring that federal policies are informed by those closest to the issue and grounded in the realities facing Tribal communities. Their work reinforces a fundamental truth: Effective solutions must be shaped and led by the voices of victims, survivors, and families.
NCAI underscores the critical importance of the Not Invisible Act Commission (The Commission), the Not One More: Findings & Recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission (Not One More Report), and the response reports from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as foundational efforts to address the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).
The work of The Commission reflects the voices of Tribal leaders, survivors, and families who have long called for action — not more studies, but real solutions. Together, they provide a roadmap to improve coordination, strengthen data systems, enhance victim services, and respect Tribal sovereignty in protecting our communities.
Shannon Holsey, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair and President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians, expressed her thoughts on the importance of this day of observance: “Today is a powerful reaffirmation of why the Violence Against Women Task Force exists — to center the voices of Native women, survivors, Tribal leaders, and advocates, and to ensure that safety for our women and families remains a national priority grounded in Tribal sovereignty. The Task Force’s work, including the recommendations advanced through the Not Invisible Act, reflects years of Tribal expertise, lived experience, and survivor‑led advocacy.”
She added, “These recommendations were not meant to sit on a shelf. They require full implementation, sustained coordination across federal agencies, and accountability at every level of government. The federal government has a responsibility to follow through — to move beyond acknowledgment and toward action — so that the commitments made to protect Native women and communities result in measurable, lasting change.”
Carmen O’Leary, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair and Director of the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, stated, “The efforts to bring about the Not One More Report were time- and resource-consuming. Choosing commissioners was thoughtful work and brought together a group that included multiple disciplines and many Tribal Nations. The report analyzed the emotional accounts of many to identify the gaps in policy, law, and procedures that have led to the deaths and injustices suffered in Indian Country and beyond. Ignoring the final product of this work enables the injustices to continue and wastes the precious time and resources expended to shape the recommendations, to resolve problems, and create safety.”
Through Resolution #SEA-25-081: Supporting a Whole-of-Government Implementation of the “Not One More” / Not Invisible Act Commission Recommendations to Address Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples and Human Trafficking — adopted by the NCAI General Assembly at its 82nd Annual Convention — Tribal Nations expressed their unified voice: The federal government must restore these resources and fully implement the recommendations. This is not just a policy request; it is a call to honor the time, testimony, and lived experiences that shaped these efforts. When the voices of victims, survivors, and families are centered, the path forward becomes clearer, more effective, and more just.
NCAI calls for the immediate restoration and preservation of these resources on federal platforms as well as full implementation of the recommendations by Congress, the President, and all relevant federal agencies. Ensuring continued access and implementation is one step toward honoring survivors, supporting families, and making meaningful progress toward ending the MMIPR crisis. The work has already been outlined. What is needed now is follow-through.
Tami Truett Jerue, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair, Executive Director of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, and Not Invisible Act Commission Member, added, “The Not Invisible Act Commission was built on the voices of survivors, families, and Tribal Nations who trusted that their pain would be heard and their testimony would lead to change. That trust demands a response. The Commission identified gaps in law, policy, and practice that have allowed violence against Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls to go unaddressed for far too long. May 5th, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, is a reminder that those recommendations are not suggestions. They are the pathway to safety. The recommendations exist. The path is clear. Our communities have waited long enough. It is time to act.”
