New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the creation of a new advisory council aimed at implementing a state plan to address cases of missing or slain Native Americans. The move comes in response to criticism from advocates who expressed concerns about the state losing momentum after the dissolution of a previous task force that developed the plan over a year ago. Advocates argue that the implementation of the plan has stalled and that communication between law enforcement and victims’ families remains a major challenge.
The governor acknowledged these concerns and emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis faced by Indigenous communities in both the United States and Canada. She stated that bringing more law enforcement agencies together will help address the lack of coordination among federal, tribal, state, and local entities. The advisory council will be led by Pojoaque Pueblo Gov. Jenelle Roybal and Picuris Pueblo Gov. Craig Quanchello, with other council members yet to be selected.
However, some advocates expressed disappointment with the lack of a concrete plan beyond the formation of the council. They argue that the state response plan, which was completed in May 2022, included short-term goals that should have already been met. The Indian Affairs Department has not provided specific details on the priorities of the council or the immediate actions that will be taken to implement the state’s plan.
At the national level, federal officials are considering the recommendations of a special commission that spent over a year gathering input from tribal leaders, families, healthcare providers, and other experts. The U.S. Interior and Justice departments are expected to respond to these recommendations early next year. Many states, including neighboring Arizona, have also established their own task forces and commissions to study the issue.
While progress is being made, advocates highlight the limitations of data on missing persons, particularly in states like Alaska, where reporting and tracking methods are inadequate. Both the federal recommendations and New Mexico’s state response plan recognize the complexity of the problem, tracing its roots back to historical policies that aimed to sever Native American and Alaska Natives’ connections to their language and culture.
The formation of the advisory council in New Mexico is seen as a step towards addressing the crisis of missing and slain Native Americans. By bringing together various stakeholders and focusing on coordination and implementation, it is hoped that more missing individuals will be found, families will gain closure, and future tragedies will be prevented. The council’s priorities and actions will be closely watched as the state works towards combating this ongoing issue.
