About MMIR
What we do
- Support and guide families during a law enforcement investigation.
- Facilitate communication between investigators, survivors and family members.
- Help develop and distribute missing persons materials.
- Support relatives in efforts to raise awareness regarding MMIR cases within Minnesota.
- Connect to victim services professionals, mental health services, support groups and crime victim advocates.
- Collaborate with system partners and stakeholders to support MMIR impacted families
- Present education and awareness on various topics related to MMIR for a variety of audiences.
Our history
In 2019, the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Task Force and Wilder Research provided a report to the state legislature. The report included mandates aimed at reducing and ending violence against indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. As a result, the legislature created the MMIR Office to provide support and resources for affected indigenous families and communities.
Gov. Tim Walz signed into law the legislation to establish the first-in-the-nation MMIR Office in 2021. Staff are housed in the Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and will work to implement the recommendations of the MMIW Task Force.
The MMIR Office was established by Minn. Stat. Section 299A.85.
Email the MMIR Office general inbox or call 651-201-7344 for archived meeting agendas and minutes from the MMIW Task Force.
Our leadership and staff
Leadership
MMIR Interim Director Ana Negrete has more than 25 years of experience in the Juvenile Justice system including time spent as a juvenile probation officer and as the JDAI coordinator where she worked to address racial disparities.
She has a strong background addressing human trafficking and exploitation as the former American Indian Human Trafficking Program consultant.
Interim Director Negrete is connected with the Otomi tribe of Central Mexico and her Hunka (adopted) family, the Black Horse Camp of the Prairie Island Indian Community. She is also a mother to Ho-Chunk children.
Staff
- Intelligence specialist: Taylor Wencel
- Violence prevention coordinator: Tawny Savage
Contact us
General information
Email the MMIR Office general inbox or call 651-201-7344.
Media inquiries
Email Catriona Stuart or call 651-479-8833.