The faces of Minnesota's Indigenous community members who have gone missing or been murdered are now a more common sight along the state's roadways, thanks to new billboards meant to honor their memories and seek justice for their disappearance or death. As part of an ongoing effort, these billboards display the photographs and details of missing or murdered Indigenous relatives.
In a heartrending turn of events, Teddi Wind, co-chair of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office’s advisory council, finds solace in seeing her daughter Nevaeh Kingbird's smile during her commute—a sight she's been without for over four years since Nevaeh's disappearance. According to a January 28th article by dps.mn.gov, the billboards are being funded through donations to the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund, which in Ojibwe means "they will be remembered forever."
Guadalupe Lopez, director of the MMIR Office, told dps.mn.gov, “For too long, Indigenous lives were invisible and our deaths were met with silence. But we were never and will never be silent.” The office is compiling a list of Indigenous individuals who have either gone missing or been murdered in the state, not as mere statistics but to honor each as a valued life and to keep their legacies alive.
The message is hard to miss, as Kateri Mishow and Frank Ortley’s names join Nevaeh’s on billboards, including locations along Interstate 35 in Minneapolis. Clear Channel Outdoor is reported to have covered the rental costs of these billboard locations, and the remaining costs are supported by the sale of special MMIR license plates. Kathy Mishow expressed her gratitude to dps.mn.gov, saying, "So many people have seen the billboard. I’m so happy that after all these years her face is being shared and her story is being told."
As of November 2025, there are 5,291 active MMIR license plates in Minnesota. These plates offer drivers a chance to contribute to the cause, with a minimum donation of $25 annually going towards the fund featured on the MMIR Office logo. Expansion plans for the billboard program are in the works to include all active MMIR office cases. For further details or to contribute to the MMIR memorial, interested parties are encouraged to visit the office's website.
To learn more about how you can support MMIR awareness or if you have a loved one who should be included in Minnesota’s MMIR memorial, complete an online form at the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund's website.
