"Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag" means "they will be remembered forever."
Minnesota lawmakers established the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward account during the 2022-2023 legislative session. The fund offers rewards for information on missing and murdered Indigenous women, children, and Two-Spirit relatives.
The MMIR office Director, Juliet Rudie, in consultation with the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward advisory group will:
- Determine the eligibility criteria and procedures for granting rewards.
- Pay a reward to any person who provides relevant information relating to a missing and murdered Indigenous woman, child, and Two-Spirit relative investigation.
Apply for the Reward Account Advisory Group
The MMIR office has filled four out of the FIVE vacancies on this advisory group.
The MMIR office is seeking to fill a vacancy for a representative from a Tribal, statewide or local organization that provides legal services to indigenous women and girls. Those interested should APPLY here.
MMIR office Director Juliet Rudie makes appointments to this advisory group. Members serve a term of four years and may be reappointed. The group is tasked to make recommendations on:
- Paying rewards.
- Supporting community-based efforts through funding community-led searches and search kits, community-led communications, and other justice-related expenses.
- Funding for community-led communications and outreach and other media-related expenses.
- Funding activities and programs to gather information on missing and murdered Indigenous women, children, and Two-Spirit relatives and to partner with and support community-led efforts.
- Developing, implementing, and coordinating prevention and awareness programming based on best practices and data-driven research.
- Any other funding activities and needs.
Advisory Group Members
This roster of Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Account Advisory Group members is current as of November 2023.
Meeting Schedule
The advisory group held its first meeting on Nov. 9, 2023. Members will continue to meet monthly until the above recommendations are identified. The members will then meet quarterly to carry out its duties.
