Wednesday, the U.S. Interior and Justice Departments announced how they are moving forward with the Not Invisible Act passed last fall to better address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person crisis.
Nominations are open for a new joint committee to nationally address violent crimes committed against Indigenous people. The Not Invisible Act was passed last year in an effort to better government interconnectivity and communication to better serve Indigenous citizens.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland spoke last fall in front of congress about the importance of the Not Invisible Act which passed unanimously.
“It will also create a point person within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, charged with improving coordination of violent crime efforts across federal agencies,” Haaland said.
Aiming for a commission of 28 members, the group will take testimony, hold hearings, and formulate recommendations to better equip the federal government to combat violent crimes in Indian Country.
Taylar Stagner is Yellowstone Public Radio's Report for America Indigenous Affairs reporter.
