Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force (MMIW) is charged with helping fight the abduction, homicide, violence and trafficking of Indigenous women in Wisconsin. The task force plans to focus on examining the factors that contribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) and the response from social service organizations, understanding the roles federal, state and tribal jurisdictions play, and improving and implementing robust data collection and reporting methods. 

 

MMIW Day of Awareness  

Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

2:30 pm

Click the here to view the recording.

 

Upcoming Meetings

Meeting Materials

Subcommittees

Members

News

Forms 

 

Upcoming Meetings

  • Friday, July 23, 2021 Systems Subcommittee Meeting- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Friday, July 23, 2021 Family Impact Subcommittee Meeting- 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Tuesday, August 3, 2021 Data Subcommittee Meeting- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Friday, August 6, 2021 Legal Subcommittee Meeting- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
  • Friday, September 17, 2021 MMIW Taskforce Meeting- 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

 

 

Meeting Materials

Subcommittee 

  • Family Impact- Meeting July 23, 2021-11:00 AM | Agenda | Click to join- Meeting ID# 969 6734 3158 Passcode# 005443
  • Systems- Meeting: July 23, 2021- 9:00 AM | Agenda | Click to join- Meeting ID# 975 2045 7290 Passcode# 742870

    Subcommittee Details

  • Objectives and Identified Issues of Subcommittees
  • Data Objectives: Determine scope of issue of MMIW in WI, identify root causes, and explore issues of data collection/data storage utilizing practices of data sovereignty. 

Issues examined

  • Data tracking, storage, and reporting
  • Systems Objectives: Analyze the relationships between local/state/county/tribal/federal supportive and responsive systems, gaps in services, and barriers to care that contribute to violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit.

Issues examined

  • Crisis response- crime victims, domestic violence shelters, law enforcement, recovery support
  • Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault services/resources/access to/responsiveness/prevention
  • Safe spaces/safe homes
  • Foster Care/Child Welfare
  • Human Trafficking
  • Resource Extraction
  • Community/Family Impact Objectives: Examine the health (mind, body, and spirit) impacts both short-term and long-term for individuals, families, and communities affected by issues of MMIWG2S.

​​​​​​​Issues examined

  • Access to original land, language, foods for Indigenous peoples-traditional knowledge holders
  • Advocacy- formal and informal, grassroots organizations
  • Resources, response, and issues of re-traumatization for MMIWG2S survivors and families seeking justice
  • Survivor Listening Sessions
  • Legal/Policy and Institutions Objectives: Examine law enforcement, respect of tribal sovereignty, collaborative efforts of Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal Police, and jurisdictional issues of local/county/state/tribal/federal that delay, impede, or result in lack of responsiveness to MMIWG2S.

​​​​​​​Issues examined

  • Incarceration of Indigenous women and survivors
  • Legislation Review/Current Laws
  • Court Systems
  • Prosecution and Legal Representation
  • Jurisdictional confusion and law enforcement response
  • Training, sourcing, funding for law enforcement local, county, state, tribal, and federal
  • Policy- local, state, and federal policies affecting issues of MMIWG2S and tribal sovereignty

 

Members

  • Task Force Co-Chair: Skye Alloway, Forest County Potawatomi Representative
  • Task Force Co-Chair: Justine Rufus, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  • Tribal Treasurer Etta Burns, Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Representative
  • Elder and Peacemaker Renee Gralewicz, Brothertown Indian Nation Representative
  • Stephanie Begay, Ho-Chunk Nation Representative
  • Secretary/Treasurer Michelle Beaudin, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Tribal Governing Board
  • Police Chief TJ Bill, Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Representative
  • Tribal Legislator Myrna Warrington, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Representative
  • Kimberlee Soldier, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Representative
  • Councilwoman Jennifer Webster, Oneida Nation
  • Judge Gwendolyn Topping, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Representative
  • Chairwoman Susan Lowe, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Representative
  • President Shannon Holsey, Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians and Great Lakes Intertribal Council (GLITC) Representative
  • Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
  • Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul
  • Michelle Bailey, Allied Direct Service Professional
  • Pam Johnson, American Indians Against Abuse
  • State Representative Beth Meyers, Assembly Democrat - Bayfield
  • State Representative Jeffrey Mursau, Assembly Republican - Crivitz
  • Attorney Danica Zawieja, Assistant Tribal Attorney, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
  • Tribal Elder Esie Leoso, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Monique Minkens, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin
  • Dr. Cristina Figueroa-Soto, Forensic Anthropologist, Wisconsin Coroners and Medical Examiners Association
  • Police Chief Tamara Larson, Frederic Police Department & Police Officer, St. Croix Tribal Police Department
  • Ben Poller, Special Agent in Charge, DCI Human Trafficking Bureau
  • Jamie Kellicut, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Community Engagement & Indigenous Affairs Director, HIR Wellness Institute
  • Tribal Elder Denise Wildcat, Lac du Flambeau Tribal Member
  • Marcie Rosas, Medical Examiner, Eau Claire and Dunn Counties, Wisconsin Coroners and Medical Examiners Association
  • Cherie Thunder, Menikanaehkem
  • Sheriff Rebecca Smith, Menominee County Sheriff
  • Andrea Lemke-Rochon, MMIW Family Member
  • Stacey Schreiber, MMIW Family Member
  • Rene Anne Goodrich, MMIW Family Member, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Member
  • Police Chief Eric Boulanger, Oneida Nation
  • State Senator Jeff Smith, Senate Democrat - Eau Claire
  • State Senator Joan Ballweg, Senate Republican - Markesan
  • Gail Nahwahquaw, Tribal Affairs Director, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Representative
  • Stephanie Lozano, Tribal Liaison, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Representative
  • Kristin Welch, Waking Women Healing Institute
  • Seat Vacant, Wisconsin District Attorney's Association
  • Attorney Eugenia "Genie" Hedlund, Wisconsin Judicare, Inc.
  • Alice Skenandore, Wise Women Gathering Place
  • Rachel Fernandez, Woodland Women

News

Press Release: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force to Hold First Meeting - December 3, 2020

Press Release: AG Kaul Announces Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force Membership - October 15, 2020

Press Release: AG Kaul Announces Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force - July 2, 2020

 

Forms

WI MMIW Task Force Key Informants Form - PDF Fillable

Call for Indigenous Artists of WI Nations - Submission Form - PDF Fillable   

 

Task Force Contacts

Shira Phelps, MMIW Task Force Project Lead:  PhelpsSR@doj.state.wi.us

Brooke Johnson, MMIW Taskforce Coordinator: JohnsonBA@doj.state.wi.us

Chris McKinny, Government Affairs Director:  MckinnyCJ@doj.state.wi.us

 

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