Billings will house one of seven offices nationwide aimed at solving cold cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The Missing and Murdered Native Americans Cold Case offices opening this and next week are part of Operation Lady Justice, a task force created last year by Pres. Donald Trump to coordinate between federal government officials and tribal governments.
The cold case offices will be staffed by tribal law enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation and newly appointed special agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Native Americans account for roughly a quarter of all missing persons in Montana though only making up about seven percent of the state’s population, according to the state justice department and Census data.
The Billings office opens Aug. 6.