Tribes eye program to address missing Native Americans

Dec 02, 20200

Robert McDonald – Associated Press count

This photo provided by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes shows U.S. Attorney, Kurt Alme, center, being presented with a blanket honoring Selis, Slispe, and Ksanka people after a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Council meeting by tribal councilwoman Ellie Bundy, right, and tribal chairwoman Shelly Fyant, left, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, on the Flathead Reservation in Pablo, Mont. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Alme launched on Tuesday a pilot project to improve the response to the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people.

HELENA, Mont. - A Native American tribe in Montana and federal prosecutors launched a test project Tuesday that they hope will lead to a blueprint for addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people across the U.S.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and U.S. Attorney for Montana Kurt Alme said the project will establish guidelines in collaboration with tribal governments, law enforcement and other partners. Lessons learned from the project will then be used to develop a draft plan that will be distributed to tribes across the U.S.

The pilot is part of a national effort to address the high rates of missing and slain Native Americans, who make up only 7% of Montana's population but account for 25% of reported missing person cases, according to an August report by the Montana Department of Justice.

https://www.startribune.com/tribes-eye-program-to-address-missing-native-americans/573256771/