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
- Wednesday April 3rd, 2024- 12:00 PM
Meeting Materials
- Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024- 12:00 PM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Thursday, February 8th, 2024- 1:00 PM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Wednesday, November 1st, 2023- 10:30 AM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Wednesday, August 9th, 2023- 1:00 PM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Postponed see meeting notice below- Thursday, July 13th, 2023- 9:00 AM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Friday, April 7th, 2023- 9:00 AM WI DOJ MMIWR Task Force Meeting
- Friday, September 16th, 2022- WI DOJ MMIW Quarterly Task Force Meeting
- Friday, June 17th, 2022- WI DOJ MMIW Quarterly Task Force Meeting
- Friday, March 18th, 2022- WI DOJ MMIW Quarterly Task Force Meeting
- Friday, December 17th, 2021- WI DOJ MMIW Quarterly Task Force Meeting
- Friday, September 17th, 2021- WI DOJ MMIW Quarterly Task Force Meeting
- Friday, June 18th, 2021-MMIW Task Force Meeting
- Friday, May 28, 2021 - Public Records/Open Meetings Training
- Friday, March 19, 2021: View Recording of Meeting
- December 4, 2020 - Task Force Meeting
- Agenda
- Proposed Strategic Plan and Toolkit - Menikanaehkem (Wisconsin)
- Research Study - Urban Indian Health Institute (Washington)
- MMIW Report - Brave Heart Society (South Dakota)
- Reclaiming Power and Place - National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Canada)
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
- Co-Chair: Representative Skye Alloway, Forest County Potawatomi
- Co-Chair: Justine Rufus, Rural Coordinator, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Contact: justiner@wcasa.org
Brooke Johnson, MMIW Taskforce Coordinator: JohnsonBA@doj.state.wi.us
Chris McKinny, Government Affairs Director: MckinnyCJ@doj.state.wi.us