Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, 2021

This proclamation designates May 5, 2021 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, calling on Americans and all levels of government to support Tribal efforts to increase awareness of the crisis of missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The document extensively describes ongoing and planned federal actions including the new Missing & Murdered Unit at Interior, implementation of Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act, and support for VAWA reauthorization.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 24479

Impact dates

May 5, 2021
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day proclaimed

Key directives

Proclaim May 5, 2021 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
Call on all Americans to support Tribal governments and communities' awareness efforts
Ask all levels of government to support Tribal awareness efforts through appropriate programs and activities

Timeline

Immediate

Proclamation of May 5, 2021 as awareness day
Call on all Americans and government levels to support Tribal awareness efforts

Near term (90d)

Continued convening of Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives
White House Council on Native American Affairs coordination
MMU operational within Bureau of Indian Affairs

Long term

Implementation of Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act
Potential passage of VAWA Reauthorization of 2021
Development of additional Tribal Community Response Plans
Building trust in government systems in Native communities

Risks & tensions

Document describes policy commitments but proclamation itself is ceremonial with no binding mandates
Jurisdictional gaps between Tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement noted as ongoing challenge
Mistrust of US Government in Native communities cited as barrier requiring long-term trust-building
Vague 'appropriate programs and activities' language for government support