{"id":2748,"date":"2020-10-12T21:31:19","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T02:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=2748"},"modified":"2020-10-12T21:34:36","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T02:34:36","slug":"a-historic-day-mmiw-legislation-finally-signed-into-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/12\/a-historic-day-mmiw-legislation-finally-signed-into-law\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;A historic day&#8217;: #MMIW legislation finally signed into law"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/U5KU2O2kJq4\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/12\/rep-deb-haaland-d-new-mexico-mmiw-notinvisible\/>Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) #MMIW #NotInvisible<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">&#8216;A historic day&#8217;: #MMIW legislation finally signed into law<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, October 12, 2020<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIt took years of work by Native women and activists but legislation to address the crisis of missing and murdered sisters and relatives has finally become law.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nJust in time for Indigenous Peoples Day, President Donald Trump signed <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/227>S.227<\/a>, Savanna&#8217;s Act, and <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/982>S.982<\/a>, the Not Invisible Act, into law on Saturday. The bipartisan measures mark the first time in which the federal government, as a whole, will be required to account for missing and murdered Native people, especially women and girls.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cEveryone in this country deserves to feel safe in their communities, but a long history of violence against Native people has led to the disappearance and murder of Native Americans at alarming rates,\u201d said <a href=https:\/\/haaland.house.gov\/>Rep. Deb Haaland<\/a> (D-New Mexico), a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/www.lagunapueblo-nsn.gov\/>Pueblo of Laguna<\/a> and one of the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/01\/04\/native-women-make-history-congress.asp>first two Native women to serve in Congress<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cToday, we celebrate two huge steps to combat the missing and murdered indigenous women\u2019s crisis, an effort led by survivors, activists, and Native women across the country,\u201d Haaland said after <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/12\/white-house-statement-on-mmiw-legislation\/>Trump signed S.227 and S.982<\/a>, 10 days following their presentation to the president.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After decades of Native women\u2019s work to raise awareness &amp; demand action, we can celebrate two huge steps to address the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MMIW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MMIW<\/a> crisis. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NotInvisible?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NotInvisible<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SavannasAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SavannasAct<\/a> are now law. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/I3IXhSneDv\">https:\/\/t.co\/I3IXhSneDv<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rep. Deb Haaland (@RepDebHaaland) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepDebHaaland\/status\/1315069961551798273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nS.227 is named in memory of <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/02\/02\/defendant-sentenced-for-kidnapping-and-m.asp>Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind<\/a>, a 22-year-old woman from the <a href=http:\/\/www.spiritlakenation.com\/>Spirit Lake Nation<\/a> who went missing and was murdered in 2017. She was eight months pregnant at the time &#8212; her child miraculously survived the brutal crime, for which two non-Indians in North Dakota were held responsible.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nNow that Savanna&#8217;s Act has become law, the   <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/>Department of Justice<\/a> will be required &#8212; for the first time &#8212; to  report the numbers of Native people who go missing every year.  In hopes of spurring accountability, the government must state which cases have been closed, or resolved in some fashion.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThis is very personal to every Indigenous woman,\u201d said  Marci McLean,  the executive director of <a href=https:\/\/westernnativevoice.org\/>Western Native Voice<\/a>, an advocacy group  based in Montana.\r\n\u201cMost Indigenous women have a story of a friend or relative who has gone missing or has been murdered.\u201d \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWith the passage of Savanna\u2019s Act, they are going to be seen and heard and their stories will be told,\u201d said McLean, who is a citizen of the <a href=https:\/\/blackfeetnation.com\/>Blackfeet Nation<\/a>, where the disappearance of <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2018\/02\/06\/woman-from-blackfeet-nation-still-missin.asp>Ashley Loring Heavy Runner<\/a> remains unsolved after more than three years.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nS.982, the Not Invisible Act, also  expands on efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Native people. It requires the <a href=https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/>Department of Justice<\/a> and the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a> to work closely with  commission that will include experts, survivors and family members of people affected by trafficking, homicide and other violent crimes in tribal and urban Indian communities.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nFurthermore,  S.982   represents an unique achievement. It&#8217;s the first bill to have been introduced, passed and signed into law  by the <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/09\/22\/rep-deb-haaland-leads-passage-of-legislation-for-missing-and-murdered-loved-ones\/>four tribal citizens who serve in Congress<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cToday is a historic day for all tribes across the country,\u201d <a href=https:\/\/twitter.com\/NNPrezNez>President Jonathan Nez<\/a> of the <a href=http:\/\/www.navajo-nsn.gov\/>Navajo Nation<\/a> said as he recognized the members of Congress &#8212; Democrat and Republican alike &#8212; who helped get <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/12\/leaders-of-navajo-nation-hail-historic-day-with-mmiw-legislation\/>Savanna&#8217;s Act and the Not Invisible Act over the finish line<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe new laws will \u201chelp bring an end to the ongoing losses of life, trauma, and devastation caused by the missing persons crisis across our country,\u201d Nez said. \u201cWe have many members of the Navajo Nation who are very compassionate and dedicated to helping families who have missing loved ones. We look forward to seeing the benefits that these two bills will have.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<figure><img itemprop=image src=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/06\/16\/justiceforkozee.jpg class=\"img-fluid wow fadeIn\"><\/img>\r\n<figcaption class=figure-caption>Friends and family of  <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/05\/26\/bring-kozee-home-vigil-held-for-native-w.asp>Kozee Decorah<\/a>  take part in a  rally outside of the  federal courthouse in Omaha, Nebraska on   June 15, 2020.  Decorah, a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation, was murdered on the Winnebago Reservation. Photo by <A href=\"\/m.asp?url=https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk <I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab  fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure><p><\/p>\r\nEnactment of S.227 and S.982 marks the first time in nearly a year in which stand-alone Indian Country legislation has become law. <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/09\/22\/indian-country-bills-crawl-to-final-approval-in-busy-election-cycle\/>Congress took final action<\/a>   on September 21, when the Democratic-controlled <a href=https:\/\/www.house.gov\/>U.S. House of Representatives<\/a> approved both measures. They cleared the <a href=https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/>U.S. Senate<\/a>, which is in Republican hands, on March 11.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWe appreciate the president signing Savanna\u2019s Act into law,\u201d said <a href=https:\/\/www.hoeven.senate.gov\/>Sen. John Hoeven<\/a> (R-North Dakota), the chairman of the <a href=https:\/\/www.indian.senate.gov\/>Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>. \u201cThis legislation addresses a tragic issue in Indian Country and will help to establish better law enforcement practices.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDespite the latest developments, it&#8217;s been slow-moving for Indian Country&#8217;s   agenda on Capitol Hill.  Historically, upwards of 20 tribal bills become law during any particular session of Congress, regardless of which party controls the  House and the Senate,   independent of the occupant of the White House.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe Donald Trump era has been different. In the 115th Congress, during which Republicans controlled both chambers, only about 12 stand-alone tribal bills became law.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICYMI: It took a while, but five Indian Country bills are finally over the finish line in the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/116th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#116th<\/a> Congress. The five bills address self-governance, treaties, economic development and the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MMIW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MMIW<\/a> crisis. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NotInvisible?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NotInvisible<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MLkV2T0X34\">https:\/\/t.co\/MLkV2T0X34<\/a><\/p>&mdash; indianz.com (@indianz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1308815864670584832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nTribes haven&#8217;t seen much of an improvement in the 116th Congress. Since January 2019, when Democrats took over the House while Republicans retained the Senate, only five stand-alone Indian Country bills &#8212; including S.227 and S.982 &#8212; have become law.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nBut the tally is expected to increase in the coming days.  Three additional measures &#8212; all of which have enjoyed bipartisan support &#8212; were sent to the White House on Friday for Trump&#8217;s signature:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"mx-4\">\r\n&#8226; <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/209>S.209<\/a>, the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS) for Indian Tribes Act. The bill brings long-overdue reforms to the self-governance programs at the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a> and at the <a href=https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/>Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8226; <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/294>S.294<\/a>, the Native American Business Incubators Program Act.\r\nThe bill creates a new program at the <a href=https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/>Department of the Interior<\/a> to boost  entrepreneurship and  economic development in Indian Country, where unique legal and policy challenges, along with limited infrastructure, hinder growth.\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8226;  <a href=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/832>S.832<\/a>, a bill to nullify a &#8220;supplemental treaty&#8221;   that some citizens of the <a href=https:\/\/warmsprings-nsn.gov\/>Warm Springs Tribes<\/a> were forced to sign   back in 1865, amid pressure from non-Indian settlers. The agreement, which has been disavowed by the tribe and the state of Oregon, attempts to limit the rights of the Warm Springs people.\r\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/p>\r\nPrior to  S.227 and S.982, the following three bills were signed into law, back in December 2019:\r\n<P><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"mx-4\">\r\n&#8226;\r\n<A \r\nhref=\"\/m.asp?url=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/256\">S.256<\/A>, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act. The <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/12\/10\/native-language-bill-clears-final-hurdle.asp>new law  reverses decades of federal policy<\/a> in which Native Americans were discouraged or prevented from <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/Video\/2019\/12\/09\/s256-esther-martinez-native-am.asp>speaking their own languages<\/a>. \r\n<P><\/p>\r\n&#8226;  <a href=\/m.asp?url=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/216>S.50<\/a>, the  Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act. The <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/12\/16\/more-indian-country-bills-advance-on-cap.asp>new law fulfills a promise made in tribal treaties<\/a> to maintain fishing sites and villages along the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/Video\/2019\/12\/17\/honorthetreaties.asp>Columbia River in Washington and Oregon<\/a>. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n&#8226; <a href=\/m.asp?url=https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/216>S.216<\/a>, the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act. The <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/Video\/2019\/12\/17\/tribalsettlement.asp>new law compensates<\/a> the <a href=https:\/\/www.spokanetribe.com\/>Spokane Tribe<\/a> for the <a href=https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/m.asp?url=https:\/\/www.spokanetribe.com\/>loss of its lands<\/a> to the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state.\r\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSeparately,  Trump in December  2019 signed a <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2019\/12\/18\/a-long-journey-for-our-people-little-she.asp>national defense bill<\/a> that included provisions  to extend federal recognition to the <a href=http:\/\/www.montanalittleshelltribe.org\/>Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians<\/a>, headquartered in Montana. The package also   restored homelands to the <a href=https:\/\/www.homelandforlytton.com\/>Lytton Band of Pomo Indians<\/a> and the <a href=https:\/\/www.santaynezchumash.org\/>Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians<\/a>, both in California.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAssuming Trump signs S.209, S.294 and S.823, tribes will have seen   eleven substantive Indian Country measures become law during the 116th Congress. The session concludes in December,  but with the election fast approaching, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for the list to grow.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aboxJaunE3w\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/aboxJaunE3w>Savanna&#8217;s Act | S.227 | 116th Congress #MMIW<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption><p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6KZ8DsZBXmM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/youtu.be\/6KZ8DsZBXmM>S.982 | Not Invisible Act | 116th Congress #MMIW #MMIP #NotInvisible<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption><p><\/p>\r\nApart from the work of the legislative branch, Trump  on the executive side established <a href=https:\/\/operationladyjustice.usdoj.gov\/>Operation Lady Justice<\/a> to examine ways to address the crisis of missing and murdered Native people. The <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/01\/29\/federal-task-force-tackles-epidemic-of-m.asp>Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives<\/a>,  which consists of federal officials,   is to deliver its first report to the White House next month.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe task force was unable to hold in-person meetings this year as a result of the <a href=\/covid19\/>COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>.  A series of virtual listening sessions and consultations, many of which were marred by technical difficulties and logistical challenges, took place between May and September.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nWritten comments are still being accepted, though, though October 21.\r\nThey can be sent via email to OperationLadyJustice@usdoj.gov, \r\nby fax to  202-514-7805, or \r\nby mail to:  \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"mx-4\">\r\nOperation Lady Justice<BR>\r\nc\/o Executive Director Marcia Good<BR> \r\nOffice of Justice Programs, Room 6336<BR>\r\nU.S. Department of Justice<BR>\r\n810 7th Street NW<BR>\r\nWashington DC  20531\r\n<\/div> \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nDuring the first listening session of  the Operation Lady Justice task force in February,  <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/02\/12\/missing-murdered-task-force-tribal-consultation.asp>tribal leaders called on the Trump administration<\/a> to change the structure of the body to ensure their input was considered in a manner consistent with the government-to-government relationship.  Although  officials said they were looking at ways of including more voices through advisory or working groups, the suggestion was never fully implemented.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It took years of work by Native women and activists but legislation to address the crisis of missing and murdered sisters and relatives has finally become law.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2778,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,13,1,14],"tags":[4,641,38,318,313,157,5,101,88,94,118,362,75,71,56,315,248,28,186,175,316,317,450,138,197,249,55,24,63,85,190,311,231,310,227,309,288,232,306,189,312,154,65,314,451,44],"class_list":["post-2748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-trust","category-law","category-national","category-politics","tag-4","tag-ashley-loving-heavy-runner","tag-california","tag-chumash","tag-columbia-river","tag-consultation","tag-coronavirus","tag-crime","tag-deb-haaland","tag-democrats","tag-doi","tag-doj","tag-donald-trump","tag-economic-development","tag-elections","tag-esther-martinez","tag-hhs","tag-jonathan-nez","tag-land-into-trust","tag-languages","tag-little-shell","tag-lytton","tag-marci-mclean","tag-meetings","tag-mmiw","tag-montana","tag-native-vote","tag-navajo","tag-oregon","tag-republicans","tag-s-209","tag-s-216","tag-s-227","tag-s-256","tag-s-294","tag-s-50","tag-s-832","tag-s-982","tag-savanna-greywind","tag-self-governance","tag-spokane","tag-treaties","tag-warm-springs","tag-washington","tag-western-native-voice","tag-women","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/nomorestolensistersmmiw-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-Ik","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2748\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}