Tribal Leaders Should Not Allow Missing Indian Men to be Ignored by Congressional Committee

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

Tribal Leaders Should Not Allow Missing Indian Men to be Ignored by Congressional Committee

WASHINGTON / March 14, 2022 – The House Committee on Oversight and Reform recently held a hearing on “The Neglected Epidemic of Missing BIPOC Women and Girls” (1). BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The hearing ignored the fact that each year, far more Native American males than indigenous females are reported missing. The Coalition to End Domestic Violence deplores the callous neglect of Native American men, and calls on Tribal leaders to express their concerns to the hearing’s convenor, Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois.

The FBI’s “Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics” for 2020 reports the following counts for missing American Indians, Blacks, and Whites (2):

Indian:

Males: 918; Females: 578

Black:

Males: 14,302; Females: 13,899

White:

Males: 27,720; Females: 20,990

For the three groups, there are more missing males than missing females. Overall, missing men and boys represent 57% of all missing persons. One of these persons is Jonathan Kent, 16, affiliated with the Chickasaw Nation and last seen in Ardmore, Oklahoma on December 19, 2021. Kent remains missing to this day (3).

In her opening comments, Kelley stated, “The issue of missing Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and girls in America is truly an epidemic, and critically important to me.” (4) Kelly did not say anything about missing Black, Brown, or Indigenous men and boys.

Ironically, Kelly’s website makes this statement: “In Congress, I’m committed to advancing commonsense legislation that ensures all Americans can live their American Dream” (5). Apparently, missing men and boys are not included within Kelly’s vision of “all Americans.”

Former federal Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney revealed in her testimony, “It was also during those sessions we heard Tribal and community leaders stress that this crisis also affected Native American men and boys, which is why our efforts focused on the larger Native American community.” (6)

American Indians have a tragic history of persons in power who ignore and exploit the most vulnerable persons in our communities. Tribal leaders and others are urged to contact Rep. Kelly and express their displeasure with her neglect of missing Indian men and boys. Call her office: (202) 225-0773.

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