​When a loved one goes missing, the fear and grief can be overwhelming. For Minnesota's Indigenous population, that pain is compounded by an epidemic of violence faced by their communities. 

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office in our Office of Justice Programs (OJP) was created in 2021 to shine a light on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people and create programs and services aimed at keeping Indigenous people and communities safe in Minnesota.

Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people are far more likely to experience violence, be murdered, or go missing compared to other demographic groups in our state. While indigenous people make up just 1 percent of the state's population, 9 percent of all murdered girls and women in Minnesota from 2010-2019 were American Indian.

What's worse: According to the 2020 report from the , once an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing or dies under suspicious circumstances, the investigation, prosecution, and sentencing processes that are supposed to serve justice often fail to provide equal and fair treatment for these Indigenous victims.

The MMIR Office aims to change that. Our office is developing culturally responsive healing resources for Indigenous victims and survivors, as well as their families and communities. We offer resources to those in tribal, local, state and federal law enforcement to help solve these crimes and bring justice those missing their loved ones.

The office is in the process of developing a statewide protocol for investigations, as well as addressing systemic risk factors including poverty and lack of housing.

Led by Juliet Rudie, a tribal member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and 28-year veteran of law enforcement, the MMIR Office supports culturally responsive, community-led efforts to promote healing and bring attention to this important issue, including a march coming up in less than two weeks.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives March from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 14 – – will flood East Phillips Park in Minneapolis with people wearing red in support of those we've lost.

Anywhere from 27 to 54 Indigenous women and girls were missing in Minnesota in any given month from 2012 to 2020. That is far too many families living with fear and grief.
Learn more on our MMIR Office ​webpage.