By Kayla Woody, CPN House of Hope Prevention Specialist

For generations, Native communities have experienced alarming rates of violence and have mourned the abductions and deaths of relatives and loved ones. Even now, Native individuals experience the negative impacts of original displacement and the disempowerment of their ancestors.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) is an ongoing crisis. Statistics show American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations are disproportionately impacted by violence compared to other communities.

  • The Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that more than 84 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women and men have experienced violence in their lifetime.
  • More than one in three have experienced violence in the past year.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that homicide is the fourth leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) males and the sixth leading cause of death among AI/AN females.
  • More than one in three American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) female victims (38 percent) and more than one in six AI/AN male victims (17 percent) were unable to get the services they needed.

Currently, there are 930 missing American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals registered in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). These missing individuals reside in all parts of the U.S., on and off reservations.

As of March 2026, the state of Oklahoma had 87 Native individuals registered as missing, ranking third in the nation, according to NamUs. Unfortunately, the number of missing Native Americans/Alaskan Natives can be significantly higher due to many contributing factors, including jurisdictional authority, racial misclassifications within law enforcement reporting, lax data collection protocols, and the inability of family members to file police reports.

May 5 has been designated as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People to bring acknowledgment and understanding to this crisis. Oklahoma currently has a designated office with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) that provides a framework for coordination between state and tribal offices on the MMIP crisis. Many grassroots organizations throughout the state provide support in communities, which has led to the development of state legislation targeting violence against Native individuals.

Savanna’s Act: Named after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a member of the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota, who was murdered while eight months pregnant in August 2017.

This law directs the Department of Justice to review, revise and develop law enforcement and justice protocols to address missing and murdered Native Americans.

Marsy’s Law: Named after Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas, a University of California Santa Barbara student, who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983.

This law ensures that victims have the same co-equal rights as the accused and convicted.

Ida’s Law: Named after Ida Beard, who went missing on June 30, 2015. Her family reported it to police, but the investigation did not open until two weeks later.

This law outlines the creation of the Office of Liaison under the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for MMIP and provides a framework for coordination between state offices

Not Invisible Act Commission: Aims to address the crisis of missing, murdered and trafficked American Indians and Alaska Natives

This act established the commission as a cross-jurisdiction advisory committee composed of both federal and non-federal members, including law enforcement, Tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.

As a Tribal organization, CPN House of Hope strives to provide education and resources, not only to those experiencing violence but also to those who choose to understand and help make a positive impact.

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, intimate partner violence, and/or sexual assault and would like more information, please contact House of Hope at 405-275-3176 or visit us online at facebook.com/cpnhouseofhope.