By Trend News Line 2024-06-18 13:00:00.
Carolyn DeFord has been searching for answers for 24 years. Her mother, Leona Kinsey, vanished from her home in La Grande, Oregon, in 1998, leaving behind a mysterious disappearance that has yet to be solved. DeFord, a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, has tirelessly sought justice for her mother, making the long journey from central Washington to Oregon multiple times in search of answers.
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In February 2019, DeFord made a significant trip to the Oregon Capitol to testify in support of a groundbreaking bill that would declare missing Native American women a statewide emergency. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tawna Sanchez, aimed to launch an investigation into the crisis and produce a report to address the underlying issues contributing to the problem. DeFord saw this as an opportunity to make a real difference and bring attention to the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Despite the passage of the bill, progress has been slow and minimal. State and federal reports have examined the issue, proposed improvements have been suggested, and public events have been held, but there has been little tangible progress on the main recommendations to improve data management and information sharing among law enforcement agencies and the public. The lack of trust between tribal communities and law enforcement remains a significant barrier to solving these cases.
Key leaders, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, have failed to address the lack of progress on implementing the report’s recommendations. Kotek admitted to not having read the recommendations or having conversations about the issue since the legislation was passed. The COVID-19 pandemic further sidelined efforts to address the crisis, leaving Indigenous communities feeling neglected and unheard.
Desiree Coyote, a family violence prevention manager and advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous persons, criticized the state for excluding Native American voices in their efforts. Coyote highlighted the systemic failures of trust between Indigenous people, government systems, and law enforcement as a significant obstacle to progress.
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Rep. Tawna Sanchez expressed disappointment at the lack of concrete progress and is considering proposing new legislation to push forward efforts to improve data collection and coordination. Sanchez emphasized the need to address systemic racism and oppression in the long term to effectively address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The ongoing disappearances of Native American women have been identified as a statewide emergency in Oregon, with estimates of unsolved cases numbering in the thousands nationally. Homicide is one of the top 10 causes of death for Indigenous females aged 1-45, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this crisis.
The Oregon State Police conducted a study to improve resources and systems for reporting, identifying, investigating, and responding to cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Oregon. The report made several recommendations, including strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and Indigenous communities, providing education on Native American history and cultural awareness to officers, and improving data collection and information sharing among agencies.
Despite some progress in implementing the report’s recommendations, challenges remain in addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Efforts to improve communication with tribal communities and governments, offer training to law enforcement officers, and hire a tribal liaison are steps in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
As the search for answers continues, advocates like Carolyn DeFord are determined to keep fighting for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous people. The road ahead may be long and challenging, but the voices of those who have been silenced must be heard, and the truth must be brought to light..
– Missing Native American women emergency
– Limited progress in Oregon report.
