Press Release
☷Department of Justice Recognizes FBI and New Mexico Partners for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Feb 03,2024
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Over the course of a year , the MMIP Initiative evolved from a data - focused project to a collaborative effort that brought together law enforcement and the community to address this complex issue . The award recipients understood the importance of working together and sharing information with various partners to tackle challenging problems like MMIP . Their efforts had a meaningful impact on Indigenous communities in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation . The community partnerships formed through the MMIP Initiative have also helped the FBI gain a better understanding of MMIP and have had a direct impact on addressing other criminal threats such as HCF , Civil Rights , and human trafficking . New Mexico is known for taking a progressive stance on MMIP issues , which have a big impact on the state as around ten percent of the population identifies as Native American . In July 2022 , the FBI made its validated list of missing Indigenous people public for the first time on their website FBI . gov/MMIP . The MMIP Initiative created many opportunities to strengthen community partnerships throughout New Mexico and the Navajo Nation . The members of the initiative are still working on building partnerships with non - law enforcement organizations across the state . On February 1 , 2023 , the U . S . Department of Justice gave out the Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety award to employees from various organizations including the FBI Albuquerque Division , FBI Criminal Investigative Division , FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division , Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety , New Mexico Department of Justice , New Mexico Indian Affairs Department , Albuquerque Police Department , and the City of Albuquerque’s Office of Equity and Inclusion . This happened at the 71st Annual Attorney Generals Awards . In 2022 , the FBI started the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons ( MMIP ) Initiative to understand the extent of missing Indigenous people in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation . The people who received the award , along with many others , used the FBI ' s expertise in collecting and analyzing data and sharing information to make significant contributions to understanding this important public safety issue . It ' s a complicated problem that involves multiple law enforcement agencies and is especially difficult for community members who have lost loved ones . In response to public demand for more transparency , the project published a complete list of missing Indigenous people . In the early stages of the MMIP Initiative , it became clear that the project was more than just about data . It turned into a collaboration among community partners who shared the same goals of addressing a public safety concern . Those who were nominated for the AG ' s Award recognized the importance of working together and sharing information with all community partners to tackle difficult issues like MMIP . This effort has had a significant impact on the Indigenous community .
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