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  

  • Maehkīw Enāhpes Red Dress- 2nd Annual Wrap Around the Capitol May 5th 2023 Event
    • Click here to view flyer and event details
  • Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 2:30 pm Click the here to view the recording.

 

Upcoming Meetings

Meeting Materials

Subcommittees

News

Forms 

 

Upcoming Meetings

  • Wednesday, August 9th, 2023- 1:00 PM

Meeting Materials

Subcommittee 

  • 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
  • MMIW/R Research Guidance Document
  • The Wisconsin MMIW/R “Knowledge Gathers and Caretakers” research guidance document is to provide a culturally responsive, Indigenous rooted, and contextually appropriate response to the WI MMIW/R activities being implemented by Tribal Nations in Wisconsin.  This document was a work product from the MMIW/R Wisconsin Task Force (Data Subcommittee) in 2022 to help provide guidance for building research and evaluation capacity and conducting Indigenous-led research and collaborative educational activities that Tribal Nations and their partners can consider for more strongly supporting their MMIW/R initiatives.  Built from a Seven Directions Medicine Wheel Framework, the document was co-created with the Tribal Nations and MMIW/R leaders on the Data Subcommittee and WI Task Force as an intentional and supported discussion that was facilitated by the scientific and Indigenous team members at Bowman Performance Consulting.     
  • 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

 

 

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

 

 

Task Force Contacts

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

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

 

This page is created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. All text, images or associated items are property of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and may only be reproduced with the consent of the Wisconsin Department of Justice.