Today marks a somber yet crucial observance, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and its partners acknowledge May 5th, 2024, as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In a move lauded by law enforcement and tribal authorities alike, Cedar Wilkie Gillette has been named the MMIP Regional Coordinator for the Northwest Region, bringing a sense of hope to a struggle long mired in tragedy.
Assigned to cover an area spanning California to Hawaii, Gillette's new role includes the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Assuming duties since June 2020 as the District of Oregon's own MMIP Coordinator, Gillette will now expand her work regionally, effectively mobilizing resources and strategies in the fight against a crisis that has ravaged communities to an unsettling extent. The appointment was announced in conjunction with MMIP Awareness Day, elevating the conversation around a problem that has affected tribes and communities for generations.
Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, praised Gillette for her qualifications and eagerness "to expand the great work she has done here in Oregon throughout the Northwest Region," as per a statement obtained by the Department of Justice. Gillette will work closely with Bree R. Black Horse, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northwest Region, who took on her role in February 2024. Together, they aim to catalyze progress in addressing what has become a persisting and pervasive affliction.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland underscored the enduring nature of the crisis, stating, "There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured." Promising justice and redress, Garland emphasized the importance of partnering with tribal communities to "be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis." His words reflect an ongoing commitment from the Justice Department, which works as a whole to counter the MMIP crisis.
With the Justice Department having allocated $268 million in grants over the past year to enhance tribal justice systems and law enforcement responses, there is a push to better address child abuse, domestic and sexual violence, tribal youth programs, and victim services. This financial support is crucial in building a more robust response to a longstanding injustice that all too often, goes unnoticed. For further details on the initiative and resources for reporting or identifying missing persons, individuals can visit the Tribal Safety and Justice section of the Department’s website.
A multi-agency MMIP Working Group also continues to pave the way for increased communication and collaboration in Oregon. Representatives from nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon join forces with federal and state law enforcement, not only reflecting a concentrated effort but also the many voices that have long called for such measures. Before her tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gillette dedicated her efforts to indigenous human rights and environmental justice matters, working as a law fellow for Earthjustice. Her background and tribal heritage—being a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa—as reported by the Department of Justice, add depth and personal conviction to her new responsibilities.
