The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force, after years of engagement with families of the missing and murdered, has unveiled a new toolkit designed to provide support and guidance to those facing the anguishing reality of a disappeared loved one. Carolyn DeFord, Puyallup, and Maureen Rosette, Chippewa Cree, co-chaired the Families Subcommittee, which spent over three years listening and learning from the experiences of those who've endured such losses. They have now turned these insights into a practical set of resources.
"This toolkit is by community, for community," Rosette said in a statement that resonates with a call for solace and action. "It is written with solidarity for our families, in remembrance of the lives lost but not forgotten, and resilience of our community." DeFord added, "This toolkit does not claim to have all the answers but what it does have is the experiences of our Families Subcommittee who have poured their stories and love into it." It is imagined as a bridge, connecting the suffering of the present with the oft-forgotten pain of the past, and offering a semblance of control amidst the storm of uncertainty wrought by a person's disappearance, as per the Attorney General's office.
The newly released toolkit, as outlined by the Attorney General's office, includes immediate steps to be taken in the critical first moments after someone goes missing: reaching out to law enforcement, disseminating vital information effectively, engaging support systems like talking circles or tribal programs, and leveraging social media. Long-term coping strategies are also encapsulated, supporting families in the sustained effort to find the missing and navigate the emotional labyrinth of hope and despair.
